§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the condition of the wild ponies in the New Forest; and what efforts have been made to deal with the lack of food and the disease with which they are threatened?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERI have been asked to reply. The Forestry Commissioners are aware that there have been statements in the Press with regard to the condition of the ponies in the New Forest, but the Commissioners are not aware of any lack of food or that the ponies are threatened with disease. The ponies are the property of private individuals, and before being turned out into the Forest have to be branded by the agisters who, as servants of the Verderers of the New Forest, exercise constant supervision and inform the owners of any ponies which are suffering in any way. Such ponies are then removed by the owners or destroyed.