§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now state the result of his inquiries into the case of the action of an owner of several farms, comprising 814 acres, in the Colchester district, in giving notice to his tenant farmers to leave, resulting in throwing 52 workmen out of employment and good land going to waste?
Sir A. BOSCAWENYes, Sir, and I am informed that the estate referred to has changed hands recently, the tenants being given notice to quit at Michaelmas last, in order that the purchaser might then have vacant possession. It is the fact that practically all the five farms 67W comprised in the estate are, at the moment, unoccupied and uncultivated, but one farm, and the greater part of another, have already been sold, and will be cultivated at once, while two other farms, in regard to which negotiations for sale are proceeding, are expected to be sold in the near future when cultivation will be resumed. The remaining farm is being retained by the purchaser, and will be farmed by a bailiff. I hope, therefore, that the workmen referred to will shortly be re-employed.