§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the honourable Member for Mon mouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners why a number of men have been discharged from the afforestation scheme near Monmouth; whether these men have been engaged for many years at this work; and whether these vacancies have been filled, and by whom?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERIn the summer, nine men whose services were no longer required on the afforestation work at Tintern were discharged. Exception was taken to this as these men had been engaged on such work for a considerable time, and more particularly because five ex-miners were employed. These five are tenants of what are called forest holdings, and one of the conditions attaching to these holdings is that the tenants must be given not less than 150 days work in the forest annually. The position with regard to the nine discharged men has since been rectified, as three men have been re-engaged for afforestation work, and the remainder have secured other work in the district.