§ Mr. CAUTLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is with his authority that the Woods and Forests, as owners of land adjoining the main London and Brighton road, refuse to give up a small strip of 1203W land in the parish of Handcross, necessary to enable the Cuckfield rural district council to do away with a blind corner at the junction of this main road with the road leading to Balcombe, and so make the main road safe for the motor and other traffic passing thereon, except on the condition of being paid by the district council the exorbitant sum of £10 10s. for costs; whether all the other landowners in the district have given up the land necessary for road widenings free of cost to the district council; whether the State ought not to be a model landowner and set an example in encouraging public improvements; and whether he can see his way to cause this condition to be removed, and so enable the district council to proceed with this public improvement, which is necessary for the public safety and convenience?
1204W
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEBefore the appropriation of Crown Land for the road improvement could be sanctioned it was necessary for the Surveyors acting for the Crown to inspect the property and as the land is included in a lease a formal surrender of it out of the lease is requisite. An agreement with the Council respecting the fencing and other work to be done will also be needed. The sum mentioned is to cover the surveyors' charges and expenses and the preparation and completion of the two necessary deeds. No charge is made by the Commissioner of Woods for the land. As the Crown property at Hand-cross consists only of a cottage and small area of land which has been granted on nominal terms to the present occupants for their lives, the Crown's interest is not sufficient to justify expenses in the matter of the proposed road improvement.