HC Deb 07 July 1909 vol 7 cc1381-4W
Mr. LEVY LEVER

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will give the following information as to small holdings in Essex, namely, the number of applicants for small holdings and the number of cottages and total acreage applied for in each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Essex; the number of applicants approved, and for what number of cottages and total acreage in each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Essex: the names of applicants already supplied by the county council with small holdings and cottages, stating where situate, for each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Essex; what steps, if any, are being taken by the county council to meet the requirements of the approved applicants; and whether approved applicants are being informed as to when they may approximately expect to be supplied with land and cottages?

Sir EDWARD STRACHEY

The following letter from the clerk of the Essex County Council gives the information for which my hon. Friend asks, so far as it is available:—

County of Essex.

A. 24029/1909.

Shire Hall, Chelmsford,

2nd July, 1909.

Sir,

SMALL HOLDINGS.

With further reference to your letter of the 29th ult., I now beg to give you the following information:—

MID-ESSEX OR CHELMSFORD DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 33 for 880 acres and 7 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 10 for 180 acres and 3 cottages.
Number of applicants under consideration 10 for 415 acres.
Number of applicants with drawn 6 for 123 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 2 for 90 acres.

SOUTH-EASTERN DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 70 for 1,495 acres and 12 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 21 for 509 acres and 5 cottages.
Number of applicants under consideration 12 for 443 acres.
Number of applicants withdrawn 10 for 58 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 2 for 22 acres.

The following applicants have been provided with land by the County Council:—

a. r. p.
T. H. Goodwin 23 0 37 and cottage at Baker-street, Orsett.
W. A. Underwood. 18 2 33 at Baker-street, Orsett.
P. Smoothy 49 3 34 at Ashingdon.
W. J. Marven 7 1 15 at Ashingdon.

EASTERN OR MALDON DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 82 for 1,161 acres and 12 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 31 for 283 acres and 6 cottages.
Number of applicants under consideration 13 for 306 acres.
Number of applicants withdrawn 6 for 176 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 7 for 129 acres.

The following applicants have been provided with land by the County Council:—

a. r. p.
W. Adkins 8 1 38 at Earls Colne.
L. Mudd
T. Smith 5 2 5 at Hatfield Peverel.
F. G. Smith 2 0 0 at Hatfield Peverel.
W. Willsher 15 0 0 at Feering.

NORTH-EASTERN OR HARWICH DIVISION (INCLUDING THE BOROUGH OF COLCHESTER).
Total number of applicants 125 for 2,185 acres and 18 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 56 for 91 acres and 14 cottages.
Number of applicants under consideration 19 for 414 acres.
Number of applicants with drawn 15 for 264 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 5 for 122 acres.

NORTHERN OR SAFFRON WALDEN DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 90 for 1,561 acres and 4 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 39 for 501 acres and 1 cottage.
Number of applicants under consideration 16 for 286 acres.
Number of applicants with drawn 15 for 250 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 2 for 40 acres.

The following applicants have been provided with land by the County Council:—

a. r. p.
A. B. Finch 5 0 1 at Gestingthorpe.
W. Surridge, senr 24 1 25 at Gestingthorpe.
W. Surridge, junr.
G. Smith 5 2 0 at Elsenham.

WESTERN OR EPPING DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 41 for 881 acres and 11 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 16 for 377 acres and 4 cottages.
Number of applicants under consideration 3 for 46 acres.
Number of applicants withdrawn 4 for 97 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 5 for 141 acres.

The following applicants have been provided with land by the County Council:—

a. r. p.
F. A. Thake … … 20 2 29 and house at Latton.
J. F. Ellis … … 10 1 0 at Epping.

SOUTH-WESTERN OR WALTHAMSTOW DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 9 for 84 acres and 1 cottage.
Number of applicants approved None.
Number of applicants under consideration 3 for 12 acres.
Number of applicants who have obtained land privately 1 for 50 acres.

SOUTHERN OR ROMFORD DIVISION.
Total number of applicants 27 for 374 acres and 11 cottages.
Number of applicants approved 15 for 220 acres and 7 cottages.
Number of applicants with drawn 6 for 89 acres.

The County Council are purchasing 340 acres of land and 4 cottages in various parts of the county, with possession at Michaelmas next, which will meet the requirements of at least 22 applicants; and are hiring 134 acres from the same date, which will be divided amongst 26 applicants.

The Council are taking active steps to acquire the additional land required to satisfy the remainder of the applicants as soon as possible.

It may, perhaps, be worthy of mention that in the majority of cases in which applicants have obtained land privately it has been through the instrumentality of the Council; also that a considerable number of the applicants, including the Small Holdings Society at Colchester, have been offered by the County Council land, which, in the opinion of the Council is suitable, and to be had at a reasonable rent, but they have refused it.

I am, Sir.

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) HERBERT W. GIBSON,

Clerk of the Council.

To the Secretary.

Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

I may add that it is not at present possible to inform applicants when they will be supplied with land, inasmuch as considerable difficulty is experienced in obtaining suitable land in some localities, and even when it is not always acceptable to the applicant.