§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of farm land of which possession was taken by his 77W Department on grounds of bad husbandry; and the numbers of farmers dispossessed in each year from 1939 onwards.
Mr. T. WilliamsUnder the Defence Regulations possession was taken on grounds of bad husbandry of 374,965 acres of land during the years 1940 to 1948. The precise number of farmers dispossessed is not available but the number of instances in which possession was taken of land (including unoccupied agricultural land and parts of holdings) or the occupier's tenancy was terminated, is given below:
78W
UNDER DEFENCE REGULATIONS 51 & 62 Year Possession Taken Tenancy Terminated No. Acreage No. Acreage 1940–44 inclusive (separate figures not available) 5,350 344,413 2,695 225,939 1945 116 11,529 47 2,233 1946 102 9,004 32 3,361 1947 86 6,866 15 1,433 1948 58 3,153 4 43 The powers under the Defence Regulations were superseded by those in Part II of the Agriculture Act, 1947, on 1st March, 1948. Since that date 12 farmers have had their occupational interests terminated under Section 17 of the Act and in one case it has been necessary to take possession under Section 18.