§ Mr. CAUTLEYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture under what 766W powers the county executive committees are acting in directing farmers and occupiers of land to plough up specified grass fields; and under what Statute or authority such directions can be enforced?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe committees are acting under the Cultivation of Lands. Order, 1917 (No. 3), which delegates to them the powers conferred on the Board by Regulation 2M of the Defence of the Realm Regulations made under the Defence of the Realm Acts.
§ Mr. CAUTLEYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, seeing that in order to get grass land ready to grow wheat for the 1918 harvest it is necessary or desirable that a large part of it should be ploughed and worked now, and lime and insecticides applied to it so as to have it fit for autumn sowing, and most likely to produce a substantial crop, he will use his best endeavours to expedite the introduction and passage of the Corn Production Bill, and thereby as soon as possible furnish the farmer with such in
ducement to immediate action, as the Bill provides the county executive committees with the necessary powers to enforce the breaking up of grass lands?
§ Mr. PROTHEROUnder the Defence of the Realm Act the county executive com- 767W mittees are already armed with the necessary powers to enforce cultivation. The Board hope that the Corn Production Bill will be passed into law at an early date.