§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the public protest made by the vice-chairman of the Norfolk County Small Holdings Committee against the recent refusal of the President to confirm the order of the county council for the acquisition of land for small holdings at Shouldham, he will state the reason for that refusal?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe order was made in respect of a field of thirty acres which the commissioner considered to be one of the best, if not the best, on the farm. The President came to the conclusion that the acquisition of this field would involve considerable hardships to the owner who is also the occupier, and as he was prepared to offer at a reasonable rent another field of sixteen acres which adjoins other small holdings, and was quite suitable for the purpose he decided not to confirm the order.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state generally the reasons for the fact that, in spite of the efforts made by the Board to provide small holdings for the 30,000 men who have applied for land under the Small Holdings Act, there are now fewer small holdings in the country than when the Act was passed?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe decrease in the aggregate number of small holdings in 1910 compared with 1907 is due mainly to the growth of urban districts and to the fact that very many of the small 2673W holders for whom land has been provided under the Act, already held some land, in which case there is no increase in the aggregate number of small holdings. I might add that, although there was a decrease of 291 small holdings in 1910 as compared with 1907, there has been an increase of 1,626 since 1908. The subject is very fully described in the Report prefixed to the Agricultural Returns for 1910 (Part I.) which has just been issued.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board, through their Commissioners, have taken any steps to ascertain how long applicants have been left by the various county councils without the opportunity of "obtaining land; and how many applicants have withdrawn their applications?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Board will take steps to ascertain the information desired by my hon. Friend.
Mr. J. W. WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) if he will state how many of the small holders on the Woodrow estate, Catshill, of the Worcestershire County Council are a year or more in arrear with their instalments of purchase money; how-many persons agreed to buy holdings on this estate; how many of them are still in possession of their holdings; and what is the area of land held by each person; also (2), how many of the tenants of the Cats-hill allotment estate of the North Bromsgrove Urban District Council were in arrear with their rent on 29th September, 1910; what is the total number of tenants on the estate; the acreage of the same; and the rent paid?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Board are making inquiries both as to this matter and that to which my hon. Friend refers in the next question. I will acquaint him with the result.