§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Agriculture why the tenant, Mr. E. H. House, was evicted from Great Strudgate's Farm, Sussex, by the East Sussex A.E.C. after the chairman of the appeal tribunal had asked him to get detailed labour and equipment for future development; and why there are now no crops and only two crossbred cattle on this 300-acre farm, and the farmhouse is now unoccupied after this eviction in the alleged interest of food production, which has resulted in the dispersal of a pedigree herd of 60 cattle.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsAfter visiting the farm and considering all the evidence, the Appeal Tribunal informed me that they were satisfied that Mr. House had completely failed in any adequate production on the farm and that they were not satisfied that he would procure the necessary labour and equipment to make the farm capable of proper production. They recommended that the tenancy should be terminated on the ground that the farm was not being cultivated according to the rules of good husbandry. No winter corn has been sown by Mr. House, and 184 acres are now being fallowed owing to their foul condition. This land has all ben ploughed at least once and further cultivated by the tenants to whom the owners re-let the farm after Mr. House's sale on nth April. The tenants already have 18 cattle on the farm and are continuing to build up the stock The farmhouse was left in a very dirty condition, with many burst water pipes and the water main turned on. The owners are putting the necessary renovations in hand as soon as possible, and in the meantime the tenants are occupying one of the cottages. The Committee are satisfied that in the circumstances of this case the new tenants' farming policy is right. and I have no reason to doubt that food production will increase as a result of the change of occupier.