During the year 22 Landholders were registered following upon Orders by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland under Section 9 of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, the total area being 1,911 acres 2 roods 35 poles arable, 355 acres 3 roods 11 poles outrun, and 2,298 acres township common pasture. The Fair Rents amounted to £228. 4s. The Number of Applications disposed of in 1926 was 964 and the number awaiting disposal as at 31st December 1926 was 599. Similarly the figures under these heads during the 14 years and 9 months in which the Act has been in operation at 31st December 1926 are as follows: Fair Rents were fixed for 2,679 Landholders' holdings. These extended to 31,391 acres arable, 36,553 acres outrun, 225,129 acres township common pasture, and 494,895 acres general common pasture. The Old Rents of these holdings (omitting shillings and pence in every case) amounted to £24,428 and the Fair Rents to £18,851, a reduction of almost 23 per cent. The arrears dealt with amounted to £10,435, and of this sum £5,030 was cancelled-fully 48 per cent. 3,149 Landholders' holdings were re-valued on the expiry of septennial periods. These extended to 25,943 acres arable, 25,976 acres outrun, 391,566 acres township common pasture, and 690,294 acres general common pasture. The Old Rents of these holdings amounted to £22,582, the First Fair Rents to £17,856, and the Second or subsequent Fair Rents to £16,183, a reduction of fully 9 per cent. on the First Fair Rents. First Equitable Rents were fixed for 1,219 Statutory Small Tenants' holdings, extending to 24,939 acres arable, 23,589 acres outrun, 45,992 acres township common pasture, and 47,324 acres general common pasture. The Old Rents of these holdings amounted to £26,267 and the First Equitable Rents to £21,699, a reduction of fully 17 per cent. Revised Equitable Rents were fixed for 105 Statutory Small Tenants' holdings, extending to 2,374 acres arable, 814 acres outrun, 5,457 acres township common pasture, and 278 acres general common pasture. The First Equitable Rents of these holdings amounted to £1,964 and the Revised Equitable Rents to £2,097, an increase of almost 7 per cent. From the commencement of the Act of 1911 till the close of the year 1926, the numbers of new holders registered by the Court and of enlargements assigned by the Court are as follows-I. new holders registered (a) by compulsory powers (1) under the 1911 Act, 520, (2) under the 1919 Act, 460, (b) by agreement, 1,678, total 2,658. II. enlargements assigned (a) by compulsory powers under the 1911 Act, 341, (b) by agreement, 744, total 1,085. In January 1926 Mr Norman Reid retired from the membership of the Court on reaching the age limit. Mr Reid joined the Court on its inception in 1912, and during the 14 years in which he acted as a member he commanded the confidence and esteem of the public. His skill as a valuer, his wide knowledge of and experience in all branches of agriculture and his sound common sense were valuable assets to the Court, and his retirement will be a loss to the Court and the public service. Mr J. A. Cameron has been appointed as his successor, and he is now the Gaelic speaking member of the Court, in terms of the Statute. ARTHUR MORGAN, 1 GROSVENOR CRESCENT, EDINBURGH, 25th March 1927. DAVID ANDERSON. DONALD MACKAY. Printed under the authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office By David Winter & Son, Shore Terrace, Dundee. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh; York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff: 15, Donegall Square West, Belfast; 1927. Price 1s. 3d. net. Cmd. 2993. (Appointed by Royal Warrant dated the 26th March, 1927.) TERMS OF REFERENCE. To enquire into the present law relating to Land Drainage in England and Wales and its administration throughout the country, to consider and report whether any amendment of the law is needed to secure an efficient system of arterial drainage without any undue burdens being placed on any particular section of the community, and to make recommendations having regard to all the interests concerned. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION. The Rt. Hon. Lord BLEDISLOE, K.B.E. (Chairman). *The Rt. Hon. LORD CLINTON. Col. Sir GEORGE LOYD COURTHOPE, Bart., M.C., M.P. LEOPOLD HARVEY, Esq. Major JOHN WALLER HILLS, M.P. Sir JOSEPH CHILD PRIESTLEY, K.C. Sir ALBERT PRITCHARD. ROWLAND RICHARD ROBBINS, Esq., C.B.E. WALTER ROBERT SMITH, Esq. Joint Secretaries. HARRY MEADOWS, Esq. DUDLEY BULMER TOYE, Esq., O.B.E. Assistant Secretary (Honorary). The Hon. ARTHUR WILLIAM ASHTON PEEL. * Lord Clinton resigned on July 1st. NOTE.-The expenses of the Commission have amounted to £885, plus the sum of £56 13s. 6d., the cost of printing this Report. 31-52 32 THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTRODUCTION Drainage Authorities and their powers (i) Commissions of Sewers ... (ii) Drainage Authorities under Special Acts (iii) Elective Drainage Boards ... (iv) County Councils with Private Acts : ... ... ... Defects of present Drainage Law and Administration Need for Land Drainage ... ... Main Issues in Drainage Problem Internal Drainage Authorities Rating 53-57 58-62 63-80, 92-93 81-83 84-91 84 95-98 99-101 102-107 108-109 110-111 112-113 114-117 118-120 121-122 123 129-130 133 134 135 136 Mining Subsidence Appeal Tribunal Economic position and Government assistance 137-13 139 140-142 143 II.-List of Bodies and persons who furnished written evidence only... 50 III.-Report of the Select Committee of the House of Lords on IV.-Somersetshire Drainage Act, 1877, Sections 59-64 ... V. List of Catchment Basins for which Catchment Area Authorities are suggested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries... 58 MAP showing the Catchment Basins listed in Appendix V. 65198 A 2 |