§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of a recent resolution passed by the executive committee of the Kent Farmers' Union concerning the River Beult; and whether, in any investigation by the Ministry of Reconstruction, he will draw attention to the necessity of clearing the channel of the river in order to reduce the flooded area and the destruction of the crops while reclaiming many acres for arable purposes?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe Kent Agricultural Executive Committee drew the attenion of the Board to the congested state of the River Beult and its tributaries at the beginning of this year, and the Board found on investigation that the principal channels had become so obstructed as to cause a considerable area of land to be so waterlogged as to become unfitted for arable cultivation. There are numerous other areas in different parts of the country which are very liable to flooding, and it is the object of the Land Drainage Bill, recently passed by this House, to provide a remedy for this evil. If, as I hope, the Bill passes into law the President will be prepared to consider favourably an application for the formation of a drainage board with jurisdiction over the valley of the Beult, which body would have power to clear the channel.