J SITY OF CAL1FORNI LOS ANGELES INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS 01 TIM COMMITTEE ON CROWN AND GOVERNMENT LANDS. Presented to Parliament by Command of His Majesty. LONDON: PRINTED & PI BLISHED UY II IS MAJESTY'S STATIONER! 0FFIC1 To be purchased through any Bookseller oi direotly from B.M 8T LTI0NER1 01 PK i at. tlio following addresses: Imperial Bouse, Eingsway, London, W.C.2, and 28 Abingdon Street, London, S.W.I; 37 Peter Street, Manchester; 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff, >>r 23 Forth Street, Edinburgh 1922 iPi ice '.'. Lands I directorate 6. Admiralty 7. Offia of Worke ; Woods and F ' rown Lands j < lommission ... 10. 11. Ministry of Transport... r_'. Inland !;• V iluation Ofl B . : 11. Ministry of Agriculture and FiBhei 15. B Boai d ol Agriculture 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 31 32 33 33 36 37 Terms ok Aitoini mbnt. Treasury Minute dated 1th October, 1921. The First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exchequer state to the Board that His Majesty's Government has decided to appoint a Committee to examine the question of concentrating in one Department all Government purchases and sales of Land and Buildings and the management of the Estates of the Crown and Government property. The Committee will be constituted as follows : — Sir Howard Frank, Bt., K.C.B. (Chairman), The Right Hon. Sir Frederick Ponsonby, G.C.V.O., K.C.B. , The Hon. E. G. Strtjtt, C.H., Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, Bt., Sir N. F. Warren Fisher, K.C.B., Sir John Hubert Oakley. Mr. G. Ismay will act as Secretary to the Committee My Lords approve. The estimated cost of printing and publishing this Report is £21. No other additional expenditure has been incurred. 39851 INTERIM REPORT Lb< LORDS < 0MMISS10NERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S TREASURY. \h Low 1 rj nder the terms of our reference we were appointed to examine the question of concentrating in one Department all ernme nt purchae e and sales of Land and Buildings and the management of th. Estates of the down and Government property . We have heard evidence submitted on behalf of the Com- missioners • I W 1- and of the Forestry Commission suggesting the transfer ol the management of the Forests and Woodlands under the control of the Commissioners of Woods to the Forestry mmission. The proposals placed before us are briefly — i transfer should appl} bo substantial!} the whole of the Crown Forests and Woodlands, thus removing the uecessitj tor the maintenance of a Forestry Depart ment w ithin the < >ffice of Woods. Xhe financial responsibilities attaching to the manage- ment of transferred properties should rest with the Forestry Commission and not with the Office of Woods. II,, transfer should be based on the general principle that the management of an entire Estate and not uirivh the forests and woodlands on an Estate, should pass to the Forestry Commission, but provision should be made to enable a retransfer of land to be made to the Commissioners of Woods when develop- ment for purposes other than afforestation is desirable. ir/i The adniinistrative jxnvers of the Forestry Commis- sioners m relation to transferred properties should be framed upon the basis of the statutory provisions as to the powers of the Commissioners of Woods, particularly where the interests of the public or com- moners are concei i Any financial provisions which may be necessitated by thi transfer or retransfer of properties should, after eemenl by the Departments concerned, be sub- ■i to the approval of the Treasury. 1 \V been asked by the Departments concerned to con- «dei tl i advance of our general recommendations, 1 md we be-j-. therefore, to submit to the following Interim Report thereon. 5. We are ol opinion that the transference from the Commis- sioners of Woods to the Forestry Commission of the management of the Forests and Woodlands at present under the control of the Commissioners of Woods is desirable in principle, and we recom- mend that the legislation accessary to effect the transfer should be initiated, subject to provision being made to meet the following points. 6. On general grounds we do not consider it desirable thai the Forestry Commission should undertake the management of por- tions of estates not required for or in connection with afforesta- tion, except, perhaps, where the particular circumstances may make it desirable and economical for that Commission to act as agents on behalf of another department. There are certain areas of agricultural land, and lands with building and accommodation value included in the estates under consideration, which, in our opinion, would be more advantageously dealt with separately. We consider that the precise areas to be transferred should be settled at a later date, and Your Committee will be happy to advise upon any particular cases of difficulty 7. While at a later stage of our enquiry we shall deal with the possibility of centralising" the administration of mining rights, we think that, in view of the close connection which must be main- tained between the miming and forestry interests in the areas under consideration, the Forestry Commission should at any rate l«ir the present take over all responsibility in these particular cases. It would be well, however, to reserve power to enable :i retransfer of these rights to be made to any centra] managing body, if such ;i course should later seem desirable. 8. We consider that power should be reserved to retransfer lands from the Forestry Commission to any other department where such a course may' prove desirable in order to permit development for building or industrial purposes. 0. We wish to add that at the present stage of our enquiry we are not prepared to say that it is desirable to retain for the purposes of afforestation the whole of the Forests and Woodlands pro- posed to be transferred to the Forestry Commission. Nor do we wish it to be taken that in making the above recommendations, we exclude from further consideration the possibility of trans- ferring the work of the Forestry Commission to a Central Administration should we find if practicable to recommend to Your Lord ships the concentration contemplated in our terms of reference. 10. If Your Lordships decide to give effect to the above recom- mendations Your Committee propose at a later date to pass under review the organisation to be set up by the Forestry Commission for the management of these Forests and Woodlands Your 3985] \ 2 Committee have bo far considered only the principle of the trans- fer and have nol given consideration to the question oi the iencj oi the pres< nt management. \\\ have the honour to be. My Lords, Your obedient servants, FToward Prank (Chairman). I' E. (1. PONSONBY. Edward G-. Strutt. John Si [rung-Maxwell. \. p. Warren Fisher. John II. Oakley ., N\i\v icretai I l th Januan . I'-' PINAL REPORT. To the l.ol;|)S COMMISSIONERS OF Mis M VJEST1 s TREASURY. Mv Lords, I. Under the terms of our reference we were appointed to examine the question of concentrating in one Department all linn, ni purchases and sales of Land and Buildings and the management of the Estates of the Crown and Government property . We have I"''' 11 informed thai of existing Public Departments the Board oi Enland Revenue in virtue of its controlling a Valuation Branch with local offices throughoul Great Britain — rded as the proper Department for undertaking all valua- tion work for the Government (other than that connected with the winding-up of certain war transactions), but that il is not considered desirable to place on that Department the respon- ibilit) for purchase, Bale or management of hinds, etc. •2. At the pre ent time purchases and sales of hind and build- are effected as occasion requires by several individual Government Departments, bul the great bulk- of the work falls to the foil I '< part ments, viz. : - The I md Direi torate, acting on behalf of the Wai Department (oi which n is a branch), the Air Ministn . and the I >isposal and Liquidation Cornmjs- ion (&) The Admiralty, for Naval purposes. (c) The Office of Works, acting on behalf of the majority of ( 'ivil I )epai bments. (d) The Posl Office, for certain postal, telegraph and tele- phone purposes. (e) r rii<' Board of Trade, for the bulk of the foreshores belonging to the Crown. For professional advice and assistance in cases of purchase and sale Government Departments have of recent years generall} employed cither the Inland Revenue Valuation Office or the I jands Directorate. 3. As regards management, the whole of the ancient landed possessions of the Crown, surrendered to the public Cor the term of life of the Sovereign, arc administered by the Commissioners of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues. Other Government lands are administered by the Departments mentioned above, and in addition by several Departments concerned with carrying out special work resulting from Government policy or other considerations, such as Farm Settlements, administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Board of Agriculture, Scot- land ; Forests, administered by the Forestry Commissioners; and canals and waterways, with adjacent property, managed by the Ministry of Transport. 4. It is impossible to provide figures showing with accuracy the total cost in the several Departments concerned of the staffs employed upon the management of lands and buildings and pur- chase and sale transactions. In many cases the work is under- taken by officers who are also responsible for the performance of duties not strictly definable as management, and, moreover, the value of services rendered to Departments- generally by the Inland Revenue Valuation Office and the Lands Directorate cannot be assessed with any accuracy. In view of the large amount of work still being done in connection with the winding-up of war emergency hirings, the figures of present cost would in any case be of little guidance so far as the cost of administration of per- manent holdings of property is concerned. 5. The following particulars of the approximate areas of land, either freehold or on long lease, occupied by the fighting depart- ments for defensive, accommodation and training purposes, will ^•vve to illustrate the size of the problem involved in centralisa- tion. In all cases lands held abroad are excluded. (a) War Department. 219,500 acres held permanently; 28,500 acres taken for war emergency purposes and not yet relin- quished. (6) Air Ministry. 20,000 acres for permanent stations, and about 14,000 acres temporarily occupied and now in course of relinquishment. 39851 A :: (c) Admiralty. I7.17(i acres freehold held permanently, and about 1 .700 acres on lease or other tenures. Amongst Civil Departments the chief holder of property is the Office of Works, which, being responsible for the accommodation of the staff s of all Civil Departments and for the provision of sites and buildings for mam special purposes, holds 1,233 properties. freehold or on building lease, and -1,040 hired premises. This Departmenl also administers several housing estates, comprising in all about 1.0,000 houses, erected either in connection with the Woolwich Arsenal housing scheme or by the Ministry of Muni- tions and other Departments, to provide accommodation for em- ployees at factories, etc, occupied during the War. The Post Office, which is responsible Tor the provision of build- ings for postal purposes in the smaller towns, holds on lease 3, '200 Class 11 Post Offices. The Class I Post Offices, though vested in the Postmaster-General, are acquired, fitted up and main- tained by the Office of Works. Various Departments are large holders of land and buildings acquired in connection with the carrying into effect of different branches of Government policv. The Forestry Commission, for instance, holds about 133,000 acres of land (excluding Ireland), of which 43,000 is freehold and the remainder on lease or feu: the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries holds 21,000 acres in connection with Land Settlement schemes, and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland similarly holds 3X4,000 acres. The Crown Lands administered by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests total in area 370.000 acres, exclusive of fore- shores and copyholds, and areas in which the Crown owns the minerals but not the surface of the land. The Disposal and Liquidation Commission holds at present properties involving an area of approximately 24,000 acres. These properties are, however, available lor sale either immediately or when no longer required lor storage purposes. While the above list does not pretend to be by any means ex- haustive it shows that at least 4,200,000 acres of land in Great Britain and [reland are administered by Government Depart- ments. 6. We summarise very briefly in the appendices to our report the system in force in various Departments as regards purchases and sales and management of land and buildings. It wiil be seen that, under present conditions, professional stall's large and small are maintained by several departments not only at headquarters hut throughout the country. The Lands Direc- torate of the War I Apartment has a staff of Land Agents attached 1" cadi of the sewn Army Commands in Great Britain; the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue maintains one hundred and eleven district officers distributed throughout Great Britain, and staffed by professional valuers, and these are in (urn controlled through thirteen Divisional offices; the Office of Works local staff is organised in nine district offices in England and Wales; and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, whose staff is in pro- cess of reorganisation, will have local Commissioners in charge of the ten districts into which England is divided for Land Settlement purposes. In addition the Commissioners of Woods employ professional agents and local receivers, either pari or whole time, in various parts of the country. We should add that many of the officials in these local offices are not employed entireb or even mainly upon land management work. The staff of the Office of Works' district offices consists, For instance, of Architects, Engineers and other staff employed upon maintenance and accommodation work lot- local branches of Government Departments, bu1 performing also, as incidental to this work, duties in regard to the acquisition and valuation of properties, and some local staff of this nature may remain necessary notwithstanding any concentration which may be effected of work in connection with the purchase, sale and management of land and buildings. 7. Before proceeding to our recommendations we think that a word is desirable with regard to the processes involved in a pur- chase or sale or other disposition of land. A decision having been reached that Department ' A ' requires for instance premises in a given locality, the employment of a professional surveyor or valuer is then necessary to ensure the acquisition of suitable premises at a reasonable cost, and upon him must fall the task of conducting the negotiations to a successful con- clusion, subject, of course, either to confirmation by his principal, or preferably subject to a limit as to price and conditions pre- viously included in the instructions received from his principal. It follows from this that purchases and sales involve at every stage the advice and active intervention of a professional valuer if the work is to be satisfactorily performed, and a divorce between valuation and dealings in land is seen to be purely artificial. 8. We therefore regard it as axiomatic that a qualified pro- fessional staff should be available for advising Departments in regard to valuations, purchases and sales, etc., of real property, and for the actual conduct of negotiations, and we cannot adopt any suggestion that valuations should or can be separated from purchases and sales (i.e., actual negotiations). 0. After a careful consideration of the whole of the evidence placed before us, we entertain no doubt that, with some small exceptions which we indicate later in our Report, the whole of the professional surveying and valuing staffs now distributed in pockets, large and small, throughout the Government Service should be completely amalgamated and departmental stall's of that character eliminated, and we incline to the view which is we understand, shared by the Council of the Surveyors' Institu- tion, that the organisation thus formed should be entrusted to the management of a Board placed under the direction of the 39851 * i 10 Treasury as the co-ordinating and controlling Department for the whole service. In carrying out this amalgamation a certain amount of sifting and strengthening of stall's will be necessary. This body, being in the nature of a Central Lands Department, would (as is the case at presenl for instance with the Government Actuary) be the professional advisers and agents for each and ever} Department, and Departments should be instructed to ask for it- assistance whenever occasion arises. In conducting pur- chases and sales of propertj the central body would not be con- cerned with an\ questions of policy, in regard to which the decision musl obviously be taken l>\ the Department responsible to Parliament . Its function would be to find in a locality specified by the in- structing department a site or building suitable for the purposes indicated h\ that department, and after agreement had been reached as to the suitability of a property, to proceed with the negotiations for purchase, subject to a limit as to price laid down by the instructing department. All professional work and advice in connection with the purchase and sale of land and buildings by a Government Department should fall to this office without exception. 10. We regard it as cardinal that this rearrangement of pro- fessional stall's should result in a decrease in expenditure, and in- deed we think it will eventuate in a considerable saving. It is clear that a certain immediate economy should result from the elimination of the several reserves of man power which must necessarily have been created under the present system of main- taining professional staffs in several different Departments. We fed confident also that the rearrangement will lead to more practical results in actual negotiations. 11. The special interests of the Revenue would require to he safeguarded if the suggested amalgamation of all professional staffs is adopted, and this, we think, might readily be achieved by the appointment ex officio to the Board of Management of the Central Lands Department of an Inland Revenue representative. We do not. however, feel it to be within our province to make recom- mendations a- fco the precise form of organisation to be adopted — which -cms to us a matter lor the Establishments Department of the Treasury- beyond recording our opinion that the manage- ment of the Department should he conducted by a Board consist- ing of a Treasury chairman, representatives of the Inland Revenue and Office of Woods, and one representative of Govern- ment I departments generall} . L2. The problem of concentrating the management of Crown and Government Lands presents greater difficulties. But, in our opinion, the new organisation which we have proposed should also he entrusted with this work, ; i S estate management is idmitiedh a function of a qualified surveyor and valuer. We 1] do not imagine that the principle we favour can be seriously disputed', and, so far as estate management pure and simple is concerned, we should deprecate exceptions in practice to it, as exceptions once admitted lend to become the rule. Peopbrties held bi the Service Departments. 13. There is, however, one class of lands to which we think the principle- of centralisation must be applied with some modifications. We refer to the management and control of lands and building's held by the fighting departments. We take the War Department,, a.- the largest holder of land for defensive purposes, as an example. As will be seen from the summary of War Department holdings appended to our Report (Appendix 2), the total area of lands held permanently by the Department is 219,480 acres, consisting principally of sites of barracks and camps, fortifications, training areas and rifle ranges. It is obvious that many of these properties cannot be utilised in such a way as to produce revenue, and in the circumstances the control and management are to a great extent concerned with questions of maintenance, a matter chiefly tor the Work's Branch of the War Department. The total area of War Department lands let to tenant* i.s 134,382 acres, of which the greater portion consists of grazing rights. In such cases the War Department reserves, in addition to powers of summary resumption of possession, the right of military user. Under these conditions it is clem- that the lands cannot be managed simply as a commercial proposition, but that the return which is obtainable is dependent in a large degree upon the extent to which military user is likely to be exercised. This is a question which can only be answered by the military side of the War Office, who must obviously have the deciding voice on all matters involving the use of land for military purposes. It is essential, therefore, that the land agents in the Commands, upon whom the War Department rely for technical assistance on all local questions of estate management, must work in the closest da\ i<> day touch with the military personnel. 14. The suggestion which we have to make to meet the particular circumstances of the fighting departments is that, while the land agents in the Commands should he absorbed in the Central Lands Department, that Department should second to the War Department such staff a- may he necessary to carrj out the local work of the Commands. 'The aim which we have in view in advocating that these officers should be fib orbed in the central body is to ensure that all professional stall's should led that they have the full strength of the Central Lands Department behind them in dealing with any of the difficult problem- which confront them, and to provide, as far as is humanly possible, that the professional services' of that office shall be utilised to the greatest advantage l>\ each and everj department. 39851 A 5 12 An arrangemenl of this nature is not in effect any great departure from th< existing system. A1 present purchases and - les of land and buildings, which are necessarily decided upon at headquarters, are effected by the Lands Directorate Head- quarter Staff, and under our proposals this work would fall to the ( entral Land- Department. The routine work in the ( ommands with regard to lettings is carried out by Local officers, hut all questions of difficulty or importance are referred to the Lands hi; ite. The proposals we have made will tend to ensure the continuance of co-operation between the staff responsible for the principal land transactions of the War Department and the local staff in the Commands, while, on the other hand, an arrangement under which the local staff remained entirely under the War Department and the head- quarter staff was absorbed in the new body would, we think, give rise to a grave risk- that the services of the Central Lands Department would qo1 be utilised to the best advantage. 15. Similar considerations apply in a greater or less decree to the management of lands by the Air Ministry and Admiralty, but we think thai treatment on the same lines will be found to meet the difficulties which mighl arise from a completi divorcement of professional staffs from these Departments. H.M. ( >FFICE OF WOEKS. L6 i uder the proposals we have se1 out above for the amal- gamation of all professional surveying and valuing staffs, the Hire and Purchase Branch of the Directorate of Lands in the Office of Works would be absorbed in the Central Lands Department. The Office of Works would continue to he responsible I\ the absorption of the Office of Woods into the Central Lands Department, thus placing at the immediate disposal of the Commissioner the services of a qualified professional staff in a position to earn out, with economy, the management of local as well as central properties. 18. The present system of managemenl of Crown properties in London has particularly engaged our attention. The onlj professional assistance employed by the Commissioners in this connection consists of the part-time services of an architect and surveyor in private practice, assisted by one whole-time technical officer on the staff of the Office of Woods. Recently, we under- stand, a very limited number of cases bave been submitted to the Chief Valuer of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office for his advice. We cannot regard these arrangements as adequate in view of the immense value and importance of the properties in question, and we haw heard evidence showing that there is dissatisfaction on the part of Crown tenants with the presenl management of these properties. So far as we are able to judge, the principles which the Commissioners of Woods have laid down for the assessment of rents, etc., are not open to objection, hut we think that difficulties have arisen in the application of those principles, due, in our view, to the professional assistance received being on an insufficiently broad basis. We are strongly of opinion, therefore, that the transfer of the work to the officers of the Central Lands Department will lead to an improvement oj relations as between landlord and tenant, and will ultimately benefit the Crown Revenues. 19. We do not, however, contemplate that absorption in the central body will in the case of the agricultural lands necessarilj involve a departure from the present system of management bv 14 outsid* professional agents and receivers, hi our opinion thai system lias worked well and is economical, and we recommend thai it should be continued. The question of the extent to which the local offices of the new organisation can be utilised in the management of the scattered miscellaneous properties in charge of the Commissioners ran \ the Local officers of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office as an indication of what ma\ lie possible on these lines. •jo. While, in view of the above recommendations regarding the transfer of the management of Crown Lands, we do not propose to review in ain detail the present system of manage- ment, there arc certain outstanding points we think it desirable to bring to your notice. The A-gricultural Estates ol the Crown covering an area, of Id 1. Tun acres, are widely scattered over the whole of Great Britain and in several cases consist of isolated properties. We understand that the Commissioners of Woods have, with the assent of Your Lordships, recently initiated a policy of sale of outlying properties and that in a few cases sales have already been effected. We desire to express out entire agreement with this policy, and we would further suggest that serious consideration should be given to the question of extending the scope of this decision so as to cover the sale of the whole of the agricultural estates belonging to the Crown, except where, for special reasons of national sentiment or expediency, the retention of a particular estate iii,i\ he desirable. We do not, of course, contemplate by this that a whole-ale disposal of these properties should be under- taken forthwith; rather we wish to indicate that, in our view, it would be to the general advantage of the Crown Revenues to effect a gradual disposal of agricultural lands as and when favour- able opportunities for realisation occur. It is impossible to ignore the fact that the material return which is now obtained from these estates i whole is not commensurate with that which could be secured b\ the re-investment in other ways of the capita] value to be secured h\ a gradual sale of the properties. Nor is the St;de in a position to benefit by those amenities of possession which, to some extent, compensate the private land- owner for the low return on his invested capital. If our suggestion is adopted, we consider that the proceeds "I' sales could, with material gam. be utilised in the purchase of freehold town investments. 21. We consider also that a careful and systematic review of the characti r and ue1 return (taking into account reversion value) now bein- obtained from certain of the properties in London, m relation to the estimated capital value of the properties, mighl with advantage be carried out. In many cases 15 we Munis i! would be found thai sales could be effected upon terms which would secure a substantial increase in income if the proceeds were re-invested upon the lines we have indicated above. As a result of a more or less systematic concentration of the Crown's holdings in this way, we should anticipate nol <>nl\ an increase in the net annua] return but also appreciable economie in the cost of the management and administration of the Crown estates. Forestry Commission. 22. In our interim report we indicated our agreement with a proposal to transfer to the Forestry Commission the managemeni of the Forests and Woodlands at present under the control of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. We have now given consideration to the question of the possibility of transferring the work of the Forestry Commission to the Central Lands Department. The functions of the new- department would, as we conceive it, consist in maki valuations, negotiating purchases and sales and under- taking general estate management, and tins work is obviously in a different category from the sylvicultural operations conducted by the Forestry Commissioners. In the latter case the value of the estate is almost wholly concentrated in the timber. Having regard, therefore, to the special purposes for which the Commission was established and the entirely individual nature of its work, we have come to the conclusion thai there would be no advantage in endeavouring to amalgamate it with the work of the Central Lands Department. k We have been informed that many of the estates now in the possession of the Forestry Commissioners have been acquired upon special terms from parties interested in the aims of the Com- missioners. Should any such cases as these arise in the future it w r ould not seem necessary for the Central Lands Department to intervene, except as regards supplying a valuation lor the guidance of the Commissioners. Any lands available lor dis- posal should, however, follow the noitnial procedure we have laid down. Board ok Trade — Foreshores. '2-'). We have referred in Appendix L3 to our Reporl to the findings of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion concerning the dual management of foreshores l>\ the Board of Trade and the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. From the information furnished to us we find it impossible to recommend that this work" should he separated from the Board of Trade, bound up as it is with questions in regard to navigation and the disposal of wreck washed ashore lor which that Hoard i- 16 responsible. The whole management of foreshore is extremely complicated, and introduces many questions which are entirely outside the ordinary duties of a professional valuer or surveyor. We reeonm.end. therefore, thai the management of foreshores should remain with the Board of Trade, and it will be a matter for consideration, if our proposals for a Central Lands Depart- ,,,,,,, are accepted, whether the foreshores now in the charge ot the Commissioners of Woods should not rather be transferred fc0 the managemenl of the Board of Trade than to the Central 1 Apartment. 24. We think it right, however, to call your attention to the principles upon which such foreshores are now managed by the Board of Trade- As we understand it, the Board has taken the view that they are hound to administer foreshores primarily in the interests of the public and not with the object of realising a revenue thereby. We do not, however, feel that this is a matter upon which we arc called to make any recommendation. MiNIStKY OF AGRIC1 LTURE. 25. The professional staff of this department is engaged, not so much in connection with the management of Government lands, as upon the work entailed by the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture for giving sanction to and generally watching the schemes administered by County Councils for the settlement of ex-service men, in connection with which the (iovernment hears a large financial responsibility. While, as will be seen from the summary of the duties carried out by these officers given in Appendix 14 to our Report, certain of the work performed in connection with Land Settlement is Midi as to necessitate the services of a qualified valuer and surveyor, we understand that the officers of the Lands Branch also act generally as the representatives of the Ministry for all purposes within their local areas, thus carrying out work which could not properly be assigned to a Central Lands Department such as we have recommended. Moreover, as regards the estates held dircctP by the Ministry for the settlement of ex-service men no question of land management on a purely commercial basis arises. Work in connection with the collection of rents from tenants and the superintendence of repairs is undertaken by the local Director of the estate. 26. In these circumstances, we have arrived at the conclusion t ha i the work n\' the Lands Branch oJ the M inistry of Agriculture and Fisheries is not suitable for incorporation in the Central Lands Department, and we do not recommend any alteration in i lie presenl system so far as management is concerned. Valuations, purchases and sales of Government land, however, should be conducted by the Central Lands Department , as in all other cases. 17 Scottish Board or A.grioi lti p.p.. 27. The position of the Scottish Board of Agriculture is similar to that of the Ministry in England, except that instead of tin- schemes being carried ont by County Councils under supervision, the Board is itself responsible for the acquisition of estates and the sub-division into small holdings. 28. We consider that it is impossible to divorce the manage- ment of these estates from the Board, hut that valuations, pur- chases and sales should he carried out by the Central hands Department. General. 29. Prom the evidence before us it appears that certain Departments from time to time conduct an investigation, either by the appointment of a Committee or otherwise, into the pro- perties in their possession with a view to disposing of any which, as a. result of a. change of circumstances or policy, il may have become unnecessary to retain. We are of opinion however that more comprehensive consideration might well he given to this question. We suggest that it might be advantageous it the Treasury were at an early date to direct the Central Lands Department to con- sider this question exhaustively with the Departments concerned, with a view to realising any properties which are cither no longer essential for Government purposes or which can be replaced by alternative propositions, equally suitable for the purposes served, on terms which would secure either a profit on realisation or economy in administration. Conclusion. 30. While we have dealt in a certain amount of detail with the circumstances of the fighting departments and the larger civil departments employing valuation and surveying stall's, it is only for the sake of illustrating our idea of the working of the principle of absorption of staffs which we have recommended. Our conclusion is, in short, that all Surveying and Valuing staffs should, with the small exceptions we have indicated, be absorbed into one Central Organisation and should undertake all profes- sional work in connection with valuations, purchases and sales of land and buildings and the management of the estates of tin Crown and Government property. The opinion we have formed, after full consideration of all the evidence placed before us. i^ that such a concentration is not only desirable, hut i^ essential if the State is to secure the best possible service in these transactions. This Committee clearly, however, cannot act as an appeal tribunal before which any given department which con- siders it mayi have a case lor exceptional treatment should urge that case ; that , in our opinion, is a matter for the Treasury. But we should not easily be convinced that the organisation we have 18 recommended would not, m the nature of things, be far better equipped for the nianagemenl of Crown and Government property than individual Government departments, whose primary business and equipment are, generally speaking, for totally different purposes. 31. We summarise below tin 1 main recommendations made in our Report : — (1) All professional surveying ami valuing staffs in the departments, with the exception of the Ministry of Agriculture and Scottish Board of Agriculture, should he completely amalgamated in a Central Lands I department under a Board of Management responsible to the Treasury. c_m The Board of Management should consist of a Treasury Chairman, representatives of tin; Inland Revenue and Office of Woods, and one representative of Govern- ment Departments generally. <■",' All professional work in connection with the valuation, purchase and sale of land and buildings should he undertaken by this department, acting as the agent for the purchasing or selling department. (4) Tin nianagemenl of Government lands, so far as it con- sists of estate management in the usual sense of the term, should he entrusted to the Central Lands I >epartment. (5) As regards the management work for the Service depart- ments, officers should he seconded from the Central Lands Department to the Service departments, so far as may be necessary. (6) The whole of the organisation of the Office of Woods and Forests should be absorbed in the Central Lands Department, the management of the principal agricul- tural lands being continued on the present basis. (7) The division of the management of Crown Lands between two Commissioners should cease. (8) Consideration should be given to a policy of gradual sale as favourable opportunities occur of the whole of the Crown agricultural properties (except where, for special reasons of national sentiment or expediency, the retention of a particular estate may be desirable), the pioceeds of sale being utilised in the purchase of freehold tow n investments. (9) A review of the net yield of London properties (taking into account reversion value) in relation to the esti- mated capital value should he undertaken with a view to considering the question of disposals. (10) As certain of the duties of the Forestry Commission are not in the nature of ordinary estate management, the Commission should not be incorporated in the Central Lands Department, hut valuations, purchases hkI sales should he carried out by that Department. 19 (11) The work of the Board of Trade in c ection with foreshores, being intimately connected with certain other duties of the Board, should remain with thai Department. The foreshores now under the control of t he Commissiqners of Woods might, with advantage, he transferred to the Board of Trade, and no! to the ( lentral 1 j;i nds I >epart tnent. (12) The professional stall's of the Ministry of Agriculture and Scottish Board of Agriculture, being to a large extent engaged upon work unsuitable lor incorporation in the Central Lands Department, should remain under their present departments; hut nil valuations, purchases and sales of Government properties on behalf of these departments should he undertaken by I he ( lentral I jands I >epartment . (13) The ( 'ei it nil Lands Department, under the directions of t Ik- Treasury , should, in consultation with I he Depart- ments concerned, investigate all Government boldings of property with a view to disposing of properties which it may he no longer aecessarj to retain for Government purposes, or which can with economy be replaced b) alternative accommodation equall} suitable lor the purpose in viev . 32. The Committee in conclusion desire to record their appre ciation of the value of the services rendered by Mr. (i. Jsmay in the difficult task allotted to him. We have the honour to he, My Lords, Your obedient servants, I [OWAED PRANK (Chain nan). I''. E. G. PONSONB3 . Edward G. Stri ti . John Stirling-Maxw ell. \ . p. Warren Fisher. John H. ( Iakley. G. Ism u (Secretary). Llth May, L922. 20 UTEND1CES. l. Lisa hi Witnesses Examined a\ lhe Committee. Sir (.. L. Barstow, K.C.U.. Treasury. M,. E. II. Coles, C.B. | Lands Directorate (for War Office and Djs- Colonel 1J. F. C'oiili. C.B.E. \ posal and Liquidation Commission). Lionel Earle, Iv.C.li.. K.C.V.O., C.M.G., Office of Works. Mi-. Morton Evans, Office of Woods and Forests. .Mr. C. I-. Fielder, M.B.E., Admiralty. Sir F. I.. ('. Floud, K.C.B., Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sir R. V. .\. Eopkins, Kl'.ll.. Inland Kevenue. Si;- A. W. Lawrence, Bart., Treasury Solicitor'.- Department. Major-General Lord Lovat, K.T., K.C.M.G., "} K.C.V.O., C.B., I)..^.().. L Forestry Commission. Mr. R. I.. Robinson, O.B.E., J bii 0. E. P. Murray, K.C.B., Post Office. Major-Genera] Sir A. M. Stuart, K.C.M.G., C.B., \ .. Lieut.-Colonel A. II. .1. Thompson, O.B.E., j Au iVLmlbti y- Mr. C. Gerald Eve, on behalf of the Surveyors' Institution. Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Bait, M.P., on behalf of certain Crown Tenants. Sir Richard Redmayne, K.C.B., on behalf of the Institution of Pro- sional Ci\ il Servants. .Mr. Barry M. Jonas, C.B.E., of Messrs. J. Carter Jonas & Sous, Crown Receivers under H.M. Office of Woods and Forests. Wad Office. The area of the land held permanently by the War Department, in- cluding land held on lea-e lor terms over 21 years, hut excluding foreign stations, is 219,430 acres, consisting principally of the sites of barracks and camps, fortifications, military training areas and rifle ranges. The Dcpartineni )- also in possession of areas totalling 28,527 acres, »vhich were taken for wa. i tnerg< n j purposes and have not yet been relinquished. Man j of these properties are bj the nature of their user incapable of producing any revenue, bu1 wherever practicable land or buildings which are temporarily surplus to military requirements are let to civilian or other tenants. At the beginning of 1921 the total area of War Depart- ment land- so Iw was 134,382 acres, of which 104,733 acres were subject to military user. The rents derived from these lettings amounted to £69,128. against a cost of maintenance of £23,889. In all these lettings War Department expressly reserves the right of summarily dis- possessing the tenant and resuming possession of the property, but in the event of such action being taken, compensation usually becomes payable Do the tenant in accordance with conditions provided in the agreement. In the case of grazing rights, which form a large proportion of the lettings under the War Department, the Department reserves, in addition to the righl oi summary resumption oi possession, the right of tnilitarj user (including facilities to troops to u-e the land for recreation) without paymenl oi compensation. In these circumstances it i« not neralbj possible to obtain full commercial rents for War Department lettings. It i- stated h.\ the War Departmenl that the total area let (134,382 acres) is substantially less than the normal peace figure owing to the con- ol land resumed from tenants during the war and not yet released from military occupation. 21 The procedure with regard bo purchase oi land by th< Wai Depart meni is brieflj as lollop • ; In August of eacJi year the locaJ military Coj ande al bonie and abroad submit a summary of recommendations for the purchase oi land and buildings to be considered in connection with bhe estimates tor the follow- ing year. Each proposal is reviewed at headquarters and after consulta tion amongst the various branches of the War Oilier concerned, the services proposed bo be included in the Estimates are, where iiccessarj submitted bo bhe Treasury for approval. Negotiations for bhe purcha sanctioned are baken up by bhe Chief Valuer and Compensation Officer of bhe Lands Directorate who reports bhe settlemenl made bo bhe admini itra tive section of the Directorate, bj whom all further action is baken. Urgent recommendations received from time bo time from the C mauds undergo a similar process of examination. Similarly the local Military Commands furnish annually a repori upon lands and buildings no longer required for military purposes. Befon taking action upon these bhe War Department refers in mosl instances bo the Admiralty. If there is no military or naval objection bhe Disposal and Liquidation Commission (who are responsible for bhe disposal ol surplus properties acquired during the war) are notified that bhe pro- perty is no longer required and steps are baken to effect a sale. The disposal of surplus properties acquired before the war is a matter for bhe War Department, hut the work is in either event carried oul by the offii i i of the Lands Directorate who act for the Commission and bhe Wai Department respectively. From time to time the question of disposing of properl ies in bhe occupa tion of the War Department, the retention of which may no longer be essential for military purposes, has been considered by Committees set up for this purpose, bhe last such Committee having sat in 1912. The routine work with regard to War Department letting* is de- centralised as much as possible and dealt wdth by technical officers attache d to the Commands, but all cases of doubt or difficulty are referred to bhe Lands Directorate for instructions. Tenants are usually obtained bj inviting open competition among present competent tenants and neigh- bouring owners or occupiers, and in suitable cases the letting is also publicly advertised. This work is generally carried out in the Commands without reference to the War Office, except in the case of first letting-, long-term lettings, rentals exceeding £100 per annum, and certain minor cases. The Land Agents in the Commands also carry out a review of year bo year tenancies which have been allowed to run for a period oi seven years and consider the question of obtaining an increased rent or otherwise altering the conditions of tenancy. As regards hirings for War Department purposes, all proposals originate with the military either at the War Office or in the Commands. Where the rent does not exceed £100 per annum the hiring may be settled in the Command without prior reference to the War Office. In other case- the Lands Directorate is responsible for all action, including submission to the Treasury when this is necessary. The hiring of buildings (Tor periods not exceeding three years) bo supple ment barrack accommodation is a matter for bhe Roya! Army Service Corps, but the Command Land Agents are available to give technical advice if desired. 3. Ant .Ministry. The An- Ministry holds about 50 permanent stations covering an area of approximately 20,000 acres (of which leased properties account for about 1.600 acres), in addition to a large number of bemporary sine covering approximately 14.000 acres, which are now in pnx-ess ,,f gradual surrender to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission tor disposal. The management and control of Air Ministry properties is with exceptions undertaken by the Lands Directorate, in which a special •22 ection at Headquarters is devoted to An- Ministry work. The detai 1 work as regards management is allocated to the Lands Officers in the War Department Commands, with the exception of certain stations trans- ferred to tlif Air .Ministry from the Admiralty, upon which the Valuation Office "I the Inland Revenue is consulted. I'll, cos1 of the Aii- Ministry work performed by the Lands Directorate was In 1921 approximately as follows: — Headquarters Staff : £ On War Office Establishment 1,932 On Air Ministry 3,717 Staff in t he Commands : Contribution by Air Ministry to War Office in respect of services of Land Agents and Staff ... 8,000 Total cost £13,649 It figure dor- not, however, represent the cost of management of the 20,000 acres of permanent stations shown above. The great hulk of tin- work was concerned with temporary holdings, of which 32,000 acres have actually been surrendered, and 14,000 acres are still the subject of negotia- tions as regards reconditioning. In addition there are many claims in connection with forced landings to be dealt with and a considerable amount of work to l>e transacted in respect of the properties already handed over to the Disposal Board. All available land at the various stations is let off to grazing tenants; the receipts are, however, liable to considerable fluctuation, as the rents obtainable are entirely dependent upon the facilities for grazing which arc permitted by flying operations. 4. Disposal \xi> Liquidation Commission. The Disposal and Liquidation Commission is a temporary Department entrusted with the fulfilment of a definite function within a limited time. Thai function is the realisation of surplus properties and stores acquired during the War and the Liquidation of War commitments. The Commission does not, therefore, purchase lands for permanent retention, but only with a view to the better realisation of surplus war assets or to minimising liabilities for compensation for damage done to lands or buildings. It is only in this relation that the Commission is concerned with the administration, purchase and sale of lands and buildings. All purchasing, selling, leasing and renting of real property is negotiated and completed by the Lands Directorate, working in close co-operation with the Disposal Board, and the Directorate has up to date realised approximately £12.000,000 for the Exchequer by the sale of surplus lands and buildings, exclusive of hutted camps and temporary structures which can only be sold for removal. Generally the properties held by the Commission are either now avail- able for disposal or will become so available when no longer required for the storage of surplus stores still awaiting disposal. In certain cases properties belonging to other Departments are temporarily held for Storage purposes only, and will revert to their original ownership as soon cleared. As regards the few properties which are still temporarily occupied bj other Government Departments, but will eventually become available for sale, the general policy of the Commission is to acquire the with a view to ultimate sale. The total acreage oi the properties at present held by the Commission approximates 24,000 acres, of which about 11,600 acres are Government freehold. 23 LANDS DlKEOTOB VIT,. As will be seen from the above sum ries of the properties ol the War Office; Disposal and Liquidation Commission and Air Ministry, Lin- great hulk of the work in connection with the acquisition, adminis- tration and disposal of properties for those departments is carried ou1 by the Lands Directorate, together with a staff of Land Agents and Valuers attached to the War Department Commands. While the Lands Directorate is concerned with almost the whole of the sale, valuation and purchase of land for the above departments, a large part of its work results from the functions which it exercises in dealing with all compensation oases arising out of militarj occupation during the war. Prior to January. 1919, approximate^ 100, 00U compensation oases were settled by the Directorate; and between January, 1919, and January, 1922. a further 33,700 cases wore dealt with. Approximately 3.097 cases remain for settlement of which 2,299 are for the War Department, 550 for the Air Ministry, and 248 for the Disposal and Liquidation Commission. Though the number of cases still outstanding is small in comparison with those disposed of, allowance must be made for the fact that the later cases tend to involve questions of great complexity and generally to include the largest claims financially. At the present time the Lands Directorate is dealing with approxi- mately 311,700 acres in the United Kingdom. Though the hulk of the work performed by the Directorate is on behalf of the War Office, Air .Ministry and Disposal Commission, the organisation and special experi- ence of the Directorate has been extensively utilised from time to time bj many other Departments. The present staff of the Lands Directorate at Headquarters is as follows : — Permanent Staff. 1 Comptroller of Lands and Deputy Director General of Lands. 1 Land Agent (a permanent appointment, at present merged in thai of Chief Valuer and Compensation Officer which is temporary). 5 Staff, Minor Staff and Second Division Clerks. 6 Draughtsmen, 2nd Class. 3 Clerical Officers. Temporary Staff. 1 Director General of Lands (unpaid). 1 Chief Valuer and Compensation Officer. 4 Deputy Chief Valuers (2 part-time only). 2 Superintending Valuers. 2 Supervising Valuers. 8 Valuers. 7 Assistant Valuers. 1 Roads Officer. 1 Assistant Roads Officer. 7 Legal Assistants (3 part-time only). 6 Technical Assistants. 4 Qnestablished Draughtsmen. 35 Clerical Staff and Typists. The present annual cost of this staff is approximately £34,000. The staff of the War Department employed in the -oven Commands .excluding Ireland), is at present: — 7 Command Land Agents. 12 Supervising Laud Agents and Valuers. 28 Land Agents and Valuers. 6 Assistant Land Agents and Valuers. 2 Legal Advisers. 24 costing approximately £30,000 per annum irrespective of clerical staff. In addition the Royal Engineer Staffs in Commands give part of their time to land duties but no fair estimate can be given of the value of their services. It is anticipated that it will almost immediately be possible to reduce the staff in the Commands (other than Ireland) to 7 Command Land Agents and 43 other grades. The growth of the staff in the Lands Directorate and Commands is illustrated by the following figures of cost: — Cost in 1914. Cost in 1920. Civil Administrative Staff in War Office (including Land Agent) 4,248 44,652 Command Land Agents and other grades in Commands 2,652 60,068 Subordinate staff in Commands 500 32,075 7,400 136,795 The evidence before the Committee states that practically the whole of this increase of staff is due to the compensation work and other adminis- trative work in connection with requisitioned lands and buildings, which is being carried out for the War Office, Air Ministry and Disposal and Liquidation Commission, etc., and that so soon as this work is concluded it will be possible to revert practically to the pre-war staff of one Land Agent in each Command together with a small headquarters staff. No reliable estimate can be given of the present apportionment of cost as between permanent and temporary work, as the staff is kept absolutely fluid and work is distributed amongst the personnel as occasion requires. Admiralty. The properties held by the Admiralty are of a very varied nature, including dockyards, Naval depots and stores, coastguard stations, barracks and training grounds, hospitals, official residences and office accommodation. The total area of land held permanently amounts to about 17.470 acres freehold in Great Britain and Ireland, and about 31.350 aens freehold situated outside the British Isles. Negotiations for the disposal of a large property held abroad are now in progress, and if this and other smaller contemplated transfers are effected, the acreage of properties held abroad will he reduced to about 8,000 acres. About 2,200 acres of land are held on lease or other tenures, of which 1,665 acres are situated in Great Britain and Ireland. The income derived from properties in the British Isles amounts approximately to £32,700, derived chiefly from rents of residences and beds and portions of depots let to shopbreakers, etc. The practice adopted until some 10 years ago by the Admiralty in connection with purchases and sales, and all the more important lettinga and rentings of properties, was to employ a local firm of valuers, or in large transactions a leading London firm. Just prior to the war the services of the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue were utilised in certain cases, and on the outbreak of war arrangements were made under winch that Office undertook the greater pari of the outdoor lands work of the Admiralty in Great Britain, working in collaboration with the Local Superintending Engineers of the Admiralty. In normal times purchases of land by the Admiralty are very small. The Lands Branch within the Admii all j is responsible for the general administrative control and management of all properties in Admiralty ownership or occupation, including about 600 Coastguard Stations in the Borne Commands. This involves all questions relating'to the acquisition '" disposal of real estate by purchase, lease, feu, or on short term tenure; also all incidental matters relating to such properties, including compen- sation to dispossessed tenants, licences in respect of easements for light •Jo and air, wayleaves for drains, telephones, etc., granted t<» or l>v tin Admiraltj ; questions concerning rights-of-way, apportio ent and redenip tio 11 of tithes and land tax. and offers made to the Admiralty for the selling or letting of property. The Lands Branch, amongst its tnanj duties, conducts or supervises all negotiations with Governmenl Departments Local Authorities, etc., concerning drainage, water supply, railway and other schemes affecting Admiraltj interests; questions oi bousing accom- modation for Admiraltj employees; and questions arising on Parliamentary Bills where Admiralty interests are concerned and where technical con- siderations arc involved. In addition the Admiralty have extensive conservancy powers which involve the consideration and granting oi licences in respect of works on foreshores, etc. The staff of the Branch is as follows: — Pennant nt Staff. 1 Chief Surveyor of Land-. 1 Civil Engineer. 3 Surveyors of Lands. 1 Assistant Civil Engineer. 4 Accountant Clerks. 1 Engineering Assistant. 3 Draughtsmen. 3 Clerks, etc. Temporary Staff. 3 Accountant Clerks. 4 Draughtsmen or women. 5 Clerks, Typists, etc. Stationed at Outports. 2 Assistant Civil Engineers. 1 Assistant Surveyor. I Engineering Assistant. H.M. Office of Wokks. The Office oi Works is responsible, with few except s, for the pro vision and maintenance of accommodation of all sorts required by Civil Departments. The properties administered, excluding Royal Palaces Royal Parks and Gardens, Diplomatic and Consular Buildings. Ancieni Monuments, Historic Buildings not in occupation, Public Statues and Brompton Cemetery, comprise approximately 5.3U0 buildings, which may be grouped as follows: — ■ Number of Buildings. Cos! "i Main Group. Freehold ,. '",'■ Bired. Building Leases. Si 1 UCl II i ■ . 1 1 and ( >ccupa- tional). Rental. State Buildings and Institutions... Temporary Institutions arising from the War. Buildings for the accommodation of administrative stall'. &c. Post and Telegraph Buildings ... 177 71 204 721 107 245 2,782 546 375,024 ooq 231 652,946 284,051 £ 54,522 93,005 840,123 151,635 1,233 1,040 1,541,252 1,139,285 26 The Department also administers 24 Housing Estates, taken over from the Ministry of .Munitions and other Departments, comprising nearly 10. ('00 houses ami hostels and covering an area of 766 acres. The total income at present derived from these properties is £275.300, against out- going* of £150.700. While it is impossible to give exact returns of the cost of staff engaged upon the various duties oi the Department in connection with the pro- perties held, the following estimates have been made by the Office of Works : — Staff employed upon inspection, hiring, purchase, allocation, sub- letting "ml sale. 1 Director of Lands and Accommodation 35 fnspectox % s and Property Agents 13 District Surveyors 45 Temporary Technical Assistants 34 Clerical Officers 128 Cost including War Bonus. £ ... 1,400 ... 19,070 5.650 ... 14,460 ... 8,100 £48,680 The Office of Works staff it- organised in nine district offices in England am! Wale.-, in addition to headquarters in London. In London the Directorate' of Lands is divided into two. sections — the Inspection and Allocation Branch and the Hire and Purchase Branch — but in the provinces both branches are merged. 'Die division of the technical stall' shown above is as follows: — London : Inspection and Allocation Branch ... ... ... 31 Hire and Purchase Branch ... ... ... ... 22 Provinces and Scotland: District Surveyors ... ... ... ... ... 13 Other Staff 13 Genera] : Compensation Work ... ... ... ... ... 4 Housing and Estate management ... ... ... 4 Draughtsmen ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 93 The duties of the above officers include the preliminary inquiries into the ecessity for acquiring new premises to meet the needs of departments and the genera] allocation of accommodation, as well as actual negotiations for buildings and sites. The functions of the Office oi Works in regard to providing accommoda- tion vary to some extent according to the purpose for which accommoda- tion i- required. In the case of a building of a specialised type such as Postal Buildings, Employment Exchanges and Factories, the requirements are laid down by the requisitioning department and the Office of Works has only a limited power of criticising them. The Office of Works is there- concerned merely with the provision of the most suitable building in a • convenient a locality as possible, and in the most economical manner. The Office of Works in such cases works in the closest relation with the officers oi the requisitioning department in order to ensure that a site or building will be economical for the purposes for which it is required, 27 and after that department bas agreed bo a selected site the negotiation* lm ' ,ll( ' acquisition of the site or building are conducted by the Directoi of Lands. Valuations are generally obtained ir the Inland Revei \ aluation Office. As regards the provision oi office aocon dation for the administra tive, technical and clerical stuffs ol all Govern a1 depar snte the functions of the Office of Works are much wider. The first consideration is to secure that, as a whole, Government staffs are housed in the inosl economical manner consisted with the efficient performance of their duties. An application lor office accommodation cannot therefore be con sidered in isolation, but hum be related not onlj to concurrent applii i tions, but to any possibilities ol' utilising existing accommodation, which may be made available as a resuH ol a rea] menl ol staffs iu one or more departments, or which may fall vacam through reduction ol ^aflV- in other departments. The notification l>\ a department of additions to oi- reductions in its .staffs becomes therefore the occasion for a general iuvestigation with a view to improving the whole position. If it is decided that new accommodation is essential, the search is to s urae extent directed by the departmental records in which previous pro positions in the miiiw district are kepi fully up to date. The Director of Lands i.s responsible for the work, hut his officers work in the closes! touch with the officers of the Directoi- of Works, and no property is sh gested until it has been examined not only as to suitabdlitj for a depart- ment's requirements, but also from the point of view ol the cost of all alterations and adaptation- necessary, and the cost of maintenance. Alter a proposition put forward by the Director of Land- has been con- sidered by the Secretariat of the Ofiiee of Work.- the approval of the Treasury is sought where necessary, and the final negotiations for the jicquisition of the property are undertaken by the Director of I. and-. In the case of property becoming redundant the Office of Works con suits any department which might be likely to need such propertj for other Government purposes, and certain Corporations ami Associations are also occasionally given the opportunity of making an offer. If the property is not thus disposed of, the normal procedure is for the Director of Lands to dispose of it either by private negotiation or public auction as may be considered most suitable. A validation of tin property is generally sought from the Inland Revenue Valuation Office t" confirm or otherwise strengthen the information in the Office of Works, but tho actual negotiations are undertaken by the Director of Lands. Office oi Woods vnd Foresi -. 1. The properties in the charge of the Commissioners of Wood- and Forests consist for the mosi part of the ancient landed possessions of the Crown, the revenues of which were surrendered to the public by George 111 in 1760 for the term of his life in return for the grant by Parliament ol a Civil List. The Irish and Scottish Land Revenues were similarly surrendered in 1793 and 1820 respectively. The Hereditary Revenues have ever since been surrendered for life by successive Sovereigns in return for the grant of a Civil Inst. 2. The present system of management by Commissioners pos statutory powers of sale and leasing was initiated m 1810, following upon the report of a Commission of Enquiry into the state and condition of the Woods, Forests and Land Revenues ol the Crown. In 1832 the Offices of Woods and Works were amalgamated under three Commissioners, but the combination was not found satisfactory, as it led to large and undue charges being placed on the Land Revenues of the Crown for the purpose of public works. In 1851, following an enquiry h\ a Select Committee of the House of Commons, the Offices were again separated l>> Act of Parliament. 28 Upon this separation the number of Commissioners • of Woods was re- duoed from three to two, each to be appointed during pleasure bj Royal Warranl and to be ineligible for a seal in Parliament. Power was given to the Treasury to assign separate duties to each Commissioner, who was made responsible onh for Iris own acts. By the Crown Lands Act of 11)06 the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries lor the time being was con- stituted an additional Commissioner of Woods without remuneration and without being rendered ineligible for a seat in Parliament. Since L912 there lias been only one paid Commissioner, together with the Minister of Agriculture ex officio. The duties assigned by the Treasury in the Minister of Agriculture are Lin 1 charge of the principal Woods, Forests (except Windsor"* and Agricultural Estates in England, Wales and Scotland. The permanent Commissioner is charged with the care of Windsor and the Land Revenue in England, Wales and Scotland excepting the parts in charge of tin- Minister of Agriculture) and the Land Revenues in Ireland and the Esles of .Man and Alderney. Powers of the Commissioners. 3. The Commissioners are to observe all orders of the. Treasury I hat are not inconsistent with the Acts for the time being in force and must obtain Treasury authority for all expenditure. No purchase or .sale exceeding £100 in value and no exchange, lease or grant can be made without previous Treasury authority, but general authority may be given io cover a particular class of cases. The Commissioners have, in fact, received authority to purchase, sell or exchange up to a value of iJ 1 ,000 ami to grant leases (except leases reserving a royalty) lor not more than 31 years up to an annual value of £100. The powers of sale anil exchange extend to any of the possessions and Land Revenues in the charge of the Commissioners not being part or parcel of any of the Royal Forests, Parks or Chases in England. As regards the Royal Forests, limited powers of sale and exchange are laid down, but these conditions could now be satisfied only in the case of the Forest of Dean. No sale of properties can be effected unless the Com- missioners are satisfied that the purchase consideration is sufficient. The Commissioners may. purchase any lands in fee simple or any charges or rights over Crown lands, ;\i)d may acquire copyhold- and may take or purchase leaseholds. Leases may be granted by the Commissioners under the Crown Lands Act, 1829, subject to maximum periods laid down by 1 hat Act. Description of Estates. i he Estates of the Crown on the 51st .March, 1921, extended to , ( boul 369,900 acres, exclusive ol copyholds held by the Crown, foreshores, and areas in which the Crown owns the minerals hut not the surface. Of this total area about 164,700 acres consisted of agricultural or pastoral lands; 126,600 acres of unenclosed waste-, subject to commonable rights of grazing; ami about 72.300 acres (partly subject to commonable rights) were under the growth of timber. The agricultural estates are widely scattered over England, and end into Scotland and Wales; but with the exception of small estates at Dover and Hastings the house property is practically all in or near London. The iiin-i important mineral areae in work are coal fields in Dean F< I. i in I under the sea off the coasts of Northumberland, Durham. South Wales and the South-Last part of Scotland. There are slate and other quarries and some inland metallic mines in Wales and la few inland iron and coal mines in Durham and Yorkshire. 29 System of Management. 5. The estates g,ener«allj are managed through local officers and agents who are paid eithei by salarj or percentages ou1 of Revenue, and are usually responsible, not only For the collects I rents within I heir respe< fcive districts, but tor furnishing valuations and negotiating lettings, sales, purchases, &c, under the directions of the Commissioners. The following notes show briefly particulars of the principal propel in charge of the permanent Commissioner: (a) London Property. — This property covers an area of approximate^ 370 acres, and is under the direcl management of the Office of Woods, who are advised professionally by an Architect and Surveyor 'who is under his agreement permitted to continue in private practice), and by one whole-time technical officer on the permanenl stafl of the office. The collection of the bulb of the rents of London properties is undertaken by the Receiver-General, a Civil Servant on the permanent staff of the Office of Woods, who also collects submarine Mine Rents and Royalties in England, and certain other items excluded from the local receiverships. The Cumberland Market Estate, consisting for the greater part of bene ment property coming into the possession of the Crown in a more or less dilapidated condition upon the expiration of building leases, i< being put into repair as possession is obtained and let directlj to the occupiers under tin* supervision of a local receiver, remunerated by a percentage upon the rents collected. The revenue derived from the London properties is increasing rapidly, mainly owing to the falling-in of the original lone-term building leases of the Regent Street and Regent's Park properties, and rose from lv>78.299 in 1911 to £426,188 in 1915. to £566,964 in 1919 and to £742.017 in 1921. The payments chargeable against income have net increased to any greal extent, if allowance is made for the increase due to high rates and to the postponement of repairs during the war period. (b) Windsor Paris mid Woods. The only portion of the Home Park in the charge of the Commissioners of Woods consists of aboul 70 acres open to the public, hut they are concerned with the whole area as regards timber and the protection of the Park against the river. In the Croat Park the soil, timber .and buildings are in the charge of the Commissioners of Woods, subject to certain rights retained by the Crown. The Croat Park and the woods at Swinley, Ascot, etc., including about 2,800 acre of tho latter which are let for various purposes, contain an area upwards of 14,000 acres. The parts not let consist eithei- of land under the growth of timber, or mixed heath and woodland or pasture in the park. There are numerous residences, cottages and buildings in the Park maintained by the Office of Woods, which also owns q private waterworks, from which a substantial revenue is derived. The total income for 1921, including £16,467 from sales of timber, was £25.821, against which the outgoings were £65,499, of which £36,569 was due to general repairs ami maintenance. The Windsor Parks and Woods are managed directly from the Office of Woods. (c) Agricultural, residential and building estates (excluding London other than Eltham and Hampton). These consist of about 8.730 acres appropriated to agricultural p\irposes situate near to London and other towns and more or less suitable for building, a considerable portion at present being used for dairy and market garden purposes, small holdings and allotments. There are also about 2,080 houses, ol which the majority are situate at Windsor. Eltham, Dover, Richmond and Hasting The Receivership for these properties is held by Messrs. Gluttons, who undertake under the Commissioners tic valuation, letting and collecting of rents of farms, houses, etc.. ami managing various plantation-, and are remunerated by a commission on the amounnl collected, which covers all expenses, including offices, clerical -tali', travelling and hotel expenses, stationery, etc. 30 Fees "ii a scale sanctioned by the Treasury are paid tor valuations of fcimberj purchases and sales, building leases, assessment of fines and dilapidations, working farms in hand, and other special work executed by the Receivers. The total collection by Messrs. Cluttons amounted in 1921 to £45,406. of which the main items were agricultural lands, £15.203; houses lei at lack rents, £5,246; and houses lei at ground rents, £19,857. The total outgoings were £19.356, oi which the cost of collection and surveys amounted to £2.106. and repairs and maintenance to £3,399. (d) Certain Foreshore and fee farm rents are collected by Messrs. Smith, Gore and Company, Crown Receivers lor the Northern District since 1906, who also receive a commission (which covers all expenses) on their receipts. The collection lor bhe year to 31st March, 1921, was: — £ Lands and foreshores (including wharfage licences) ... 2,422 Pee farm rents ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 549 .Mine 3,141 6,112 6. The property assigned to the management of the Minister of Agriculture as a Commissioner of Woods consists of 119,000 acres of agricultural land in Great Britain, and the Forests and Woodlands, in addition to an area <>!' about 2.551 acres of unenclosed commonable waste within certain manor-, and to certain foreshores and other properties adjacent to agricultural estates. Of the above agricultural lands 77,554 acres are in the Receivership of Messrs. Carter Juna- and Sons who wevo appointed in 1907 and are remunerated by a commission on all rent.- collected by them and on the proceeds el all produce sold (except sales by auction). The total collection is approximately £96,250, ami tin 1 average cost of repairs on gross rents is ii inler 7 per emit. 7. The Properties in Wales, with the exception of the agricultural land- in Messrs. Carter Jonas and Sons' Receivership are under the local management of the Crown Receiver for Wales, a whole-time officer paid mainly by a fixed -alary hut partly by commission. The Crown Receiver has the assistance oi various part-time local officers, including two local collectors of Rents of Assize, various Stewards. Deputy Stewards and Bailiffs of Manor- and three local .Mine Agents. One of the four districts into which Wale- is divided for raining purposes is now under the management of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office. 8. In Scotland the revenue is collected by a Crown Receiver in Edin- burgh, assisted by an office staff, with the exception of revenue derived from the Caithness Estates and Orkney. These latter are collected by local Receivers giving onl\ part of their time to the work and remunerated in one case by commission and in the other by a fixed salary. 9. The revenue in Ireland consists chiefly of quil and other unimprove- able reel- of fixed amount issuing out of private lands. The rents generally are collected by officers oi the Customs and Excise on a commission basis, and in the case of the Curragh Estates by the Board of Works. Ireland, under the general supervision of a branch of the Office (.I Wood- ii, Dublin. This office also Looks alter the protection generally of the rights of the Crown, a duty which has been made heavy hy the intricate questions arising in connection with [rish Land Purchase. L0. There are also local Receivers in the [files of Man and Alderney charged with the collection of revenue in those Islands. 11. The staff engaged in connection with the administration of the Crown Estates falls into two classes those paid from moneys voted by Parliament and those paid from Land Revenues, 31 The staff paid from the Vote for the Oilier of W Is is maiul.\ adminis- trative and clerical, but includes the following technical officers: I Assistant Architect and Surveyor 1 S u i\ eyor's Assistant | temporary ) 2 Draughtsmen 1 1 temporarj I. The total provision lor salaries, etc., for 1922/3 is £34,821. 12. The principal divisions of receiverships, etc. arc briefly shown below : — ■ Principal Agricultural Lands. Messrs. Carter Jonas A- Co. Rentals of house property in South of England and certain agricultural hi mis. — Messrs. Chittons. Collection in North of England, mainly foreshores, fee-farm rents, and certain mines. — Messrs. Smith, Gore A- Co., London. London property. — Technical assistance is received from an Archited and Surveyor in private practice who makes valuations, negotiates lettings, sales, and purchases, and advises on all important questions arising. He is paid fees on a scale approved by the Treasury. (Additional assistance is given by the Architect on the staff of the Office of Woods.) Mines management— A Mining Engineer in private practice is employed as Chief Mineral Inspector. The same gentleman is also Deputy Caveller of Dean Foresl ai a separate salary, and has an office and clerical stall provided from Land Revenues. Properties in Wales.— A whole time Receiver i.s employed, paid by a fixed salary together with certain commissions and allowances, together with various local Mine Agents, Collectors of Rents of Assize, Stewards ol Manors, etc., paid by small fees or commissions. Properties in Scotland. — The Crown Receiver in Edinburgh, who is paid by salary, with the assistance of a .small stall of clerks, manages the whole of the revenue in Scotland, except in Caithness and Orkney where there are separate Receivers. Properties in Ireland. — These are administered by the Quit Rent Office in Dublin, the cost of which is included in the estimated Vote expenditure shown above (para. 11). Pro pei lies in Isles of Man ami Alderney. These properties are under the local management of resident Crown Receivers. 9. Forestry Com mission. The Forestry Commission was established by the Forestry Act of 1919. and the lands which the Commissioners have acquired under the powers conferred upon them by that Act consist almost entirely of newly- established plantations or [and awaiting planting. The area of the lands so acquired in Great Britain is approximately 133,000 acres, of which about 90,000 acres are held on lease or feu. It is the policy of the Com- missioners to let any plantable land not immediately required for afforestation purposes, and to dispose of any agricultural land acquired as part of an estate, but not necessary for nursery purposes. The only surplus implantable land is said to be so high and rocky as to be practi- cally valueless. In these circumstances the revenue consists for the mosl part of renter obtainable for unequipped grazing during the transition Mom farm bo forest, together with rents from some farms and from sporting rights, and amounts approximately to £10,000 per annum. The duties connected with selection, survey, negotiations for acquisi- tion of estates and the management of those portions not at present under forest :ire all undertaken by the staff of the Commission engaged upon the sylv icult ural operations. In Scotland, whore the land is held in 32 larger areas than in England and Wales, there were employed in 1921-2 a Land Acquisition Officer, and a works manager responsible for the pro- vision of accommodation for the workmen by the Commission. 10. Post Office. The only Post Office buildings tlaken by the Postmaster-General without fche intervention of the Office of Works are the less important leasehold offices (Class 11 Crown Offices) in small towns. The number of Class II Offices, including Engineering Stores and Garages, is about 3,200. The value of the whole of the Post Office properties on tbe 31st March, 1921, as stated in the Commercial Accounts of the Post Office, was L'13,906,382, this figure being the prime cost less depreciation. The total outgoings for that year for maintenance, rates, minor works and altera- tions, furniture, water, light, &c, amounted to £1,671,209, and the total amount of rents paid for the same period was £338,845. As regards the acquisition of Class I offices, the Office of Works, after being furnished by tbe Post Office with tbe details of the requirements and tbe area within which a site or building is required, conduct tbe search for suitable sites in close consultation with the District Surveyors of the Post Office, and, after consulting tbe Inland Revenue Valuation Office regarding the value of sites, report to the Post Office as to price and suitability. Tbe decision as to suitability is taken by the Post Office who obtain Treasury sanction when necessary. Negotiations for purchase are undertaken by the Office of Works, and, if successful, the conveyance is drafted by tbe Post Office Solicitor. Proposals for the acquisition of Class II Offices are submitted by the local officers of the Post Office, and are considered at Headquarters with the laid of an Architectural Assistant attached to the Secretary's Office, who also agists the local officers in connection with preparation of plans and negotiations with a prospective lessor. The terms of the lease are settled with the assistance of the Post Office Solicitor. Occasionally the Post Office acquires premises, which, not being im- mediately required for Post Office purposes, are available for letting, or a site lor future building on which existing premises can similarly be let. In certain cases rents are received from Postmasters residing on official premises. The total amount realised in this way in 1920-21 was £35,052. Surplus lands or buildings to be disposed of are usually put up for auction, the conditions of sale being drawn up by the Post Office Solicitor in consultation with the Office of Works Architect. If not put up to auction the Office of Works is consulted as to the price to be accepted. The Post Office do not employ any staff exclusively upon operations connected with the purchase, sale or maintenance of properties. The work is in the main performed by the Buildings and Supplies branch of the Secretariat of the Post Office, which covers the whole field of Post Office accommodation, fittings and stores and deals with general questions of policy on building matters. The branch consists of 29 members (ex- clusive of officers engaged on Supplies work), and attached to it are an architectural assistant, buildings surveyor, assistant buildings surveyor and four draughtsmen. The total cost of tbe branch is about £18,000 per annum. A considerable amount of routine work is performed locally by districl surveyors and other officers. The Post Office Solicitor, under whom eight assistants are engaged more or less exclusively in conveyancing and leasing work, deals with all legal questions arising in connection with Post Office property. The cost, in- eluding clerical assistance, is £5.791 per annum. 33 ll. Ministry of Transport. The properties with which the Ministry of Transport is concerned Fall broadly under three heads; — (1) Property which forms an essential part of a Transport or Hart r undertaking, e.g., lock-keepers' houses on the Caledonian Canal, or the Harhour Master's house at Ramsgate Barbour. In this category fall the I: r and Old Earbours at Holy- head, which are let off at an annual rental ot £4,000. (2) Property which belongs bo a Transport or Barbour undertaking but which is not an essential part, of the undertaking. This consists of a number of houses, stores and sites in Ramsgate and Holyhead, and near the Caledonian and Crinan Canals, producing an in- come of about £4,000 per annum. The management of the above properties (including purchases and sales) is carried out by the Ministry through its local officers engaged in connection with the working of the undertaking. The cost oi this par- ticular work cannot be separated from the general expenses of the under- takings. (3) Land acquired on behalf of the Road Fund in connection with the construction of arterial roads, including occasionally surplus land on either side of the road necessarily included in the purchase owing to severance from the main portion of the owner's property. As regards the acquisition of these lands by the Ministry of Transport, after the scheme has been worked out by the engineers of that depart- ment, the actual negotiations for purchase of the necessary land arc usually conducted by the District Officers of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office. No surplus lands have as yet been disposed of, except for the transfer in a \'v\v cases of a parcel of surplus land as part compensation to an adjacent owner. 12. Inland Revenue Valuation Office. The Valuation Office, which forms part of the Inland Revenue organisa- tion, performs a large volume of valuation work for revenue purpose-, and acts as professional surveyors and advisers to many Government departments, in connection with purchases, sales and other dealings in property. Initiation and executive responsibility rest, however, with the department for which the Valuation Office is acting. In addition to the revenue work the principal duties which the office now carries out are: — (1) Acting as professional advisers to the Admiralty, and in so Tar a.-> land acquired from the Admiralty is concerned, to the Ait- Ministry, wherever real property is concerned and in connection with compensation questions arising out of the war; to the Ministry of Health on the acquisition of land for public purposes, as to rents to be fixed under housing schemes and as to the realisation of surplus land; and to the Ministry of Transport in connection with arterial road schemes. (2) Acting as advisers upon State loans granted on the security oi land. (3) Advising as to Town Planning Schemes and other work in connection with the Housing Acts. (4) Advising as to the value of property owned by claimants to Old Age Pension-. (5) Acting upon requests from the Treasury upon proposals affecting lands and generally assisting any Governmenl department risking for professional advice, 34 (6) Assisting Local Authorities in certain cases when requested 'co do so b\ a Government Department. Tiir Valuation Office also undertakes on behalf of the Office of Woods the manangement of quarries belonging to tin- Crown in North Wales, and, on behalf of the Air Ministry, the management of an area of ahout 1.000 acres situated a1 Cardington. The Office is responsible for valuation work generally on behalf of Government Departments, subject to the qualifications that (a) the War Office, the Air .Ministry and the Disposal and Liquidation Commission employ their own valuation organisation the Lands Directorate — and (b) i lie Office of Works, the Ministry of Agriculture, and to some extent the Hoard of Education, whilst calling upon the Valuation Office, Inland Revenue, for advice on values, generally proceed themselves to carry out any negotiations which may be requisite for the purchase or sale, or lotting of the property concerned. The Valuation Office is divided into 111 District Offices normally in charge of a first-class vainer and each district office is responsible for a definite area of the country. In England and Wales the District Offices are co-ordinated and controlled through 13 Divisional Offices in charge of Superintending Valuers, who are in turn responsible to the Chief Valuer. In Scotland the District Valuers are responsible direct to the Chief Valuer in Edinburgh. The present stall' of the Department is shown in the following table: — Established Staff. Grade. 1 Chief Vainer. 1 do. (Scotland). 1 Deputy Chief Valuer. 13 Superintending Valuers. 116 Valuers, 1st Class. 119 „ 2nd „ 137 ,, 3rd 388 Total Established Valuers. 66 Clerks to Valuers. 454 Total Established Staff. Temporary Staff. 10 Temporary Valuers. 368 Temporary Clerks. 57 Shorthand-Typists. 435 Total Temporary Staff. Total Staff. 398 Valuers. 491 Clerical Staff. 889 The total cost on the Inland Revenue Vote for the year 1921/22 \v;is about £500,000, but the provision for 1922/23 has been ^reduced to £415,695, including travelling and other, small expenses. 35 13. Boars of Trade— General. The Board of Trade are concerned with the provision oi ite and buildings for 290 Life Saving and Coast Watching Stations on the coa of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The sites are frequently part of a Coastguard Station, and therefore Admiralty freehold or Leasehold property, or held by the Board of Trade Fr another Governmenl department. In some cases sites have been purchased, leased or rented by the Board of Trade from private landowners. The areas involved are very small, varying from 100 to 400 square feet in the case of Watch Huts, with an average of 1.2fii square feel in blie case of leased or rented properties. Negotiations for the purchase or renting of these properties are carried out by the Mercantile Marine Department of the Hoard ol Trade, a valuation usually being obtained from the Inland Revenue Valuation Office. Renewals of leases and other negotiations for premises or alterations in tenure of premises average about 20 eases a year. The Transport Section of the Mercantile Marine Department (formerly Ministry of Shipping) hold a small number of buildings as offices and stores all on short tenancy or determinable on six months' notice. No stall' is exclusively occupied in connection with the administration of any of the a hove properties. Board op Trade — Foreshores . The Board of Trade has since 1866 been concerned with the administra- tion of the greater part of the foreshore in Great Britain and [re-land which is Crown Property. By the Crown Lands Act of that year all parts of the foreshore of the United Kingdom belonging to Her Majesty in right of her Crown we^e, with the exceptions noted below, transferred from the management of the Commissioners of Woods to that of the Board of Trade. The following exceptions were made from the transfer: — in) The foreshore of the Bivevs Thames and Tees and of the County Pa laliue of Durham. (h) Any portion of foreshore in relation to which any instrument had, before 1st January, 1867, been made or executed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. (c) Any portion of the foreshore in front of Governmenl property. (d) Mines and minerals under the foreshore. The Board ol Trade are responsible for all questions affecting the public right of navigation, and one of the main reasons For the transfer of foreshore effected in 1866 arose from the fad thai the Commissioners of Woods were accustomed to make grants of foreshore without reference to the Board of Trade with regard to the interests of navigation. The Board of Trade are also responsible for the disposal of unclaimed wrecks washed ashore, and questions of coasl erosion, both of which raise frequent questions intimately connected with the foreshore work. The view taken by the Board of Trade is thai Foreshore should be administered in the public interest, and not with the primary ohjeci of realising the largesl possible revenue from it. The whole subject was investigated in 1911 by the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion, whose main recommendations upon the subjed ar< as follows : — "With regard to the changes which appear to he necessary in "the law relating to the regulation of the Foreshore in the public " interest, we would recommend that it is desirable to confine to "one Department of the Stale i he administration and control of "the surface of the Foreshores of the United Kingdom which are "the property of the Crown. At present, as we have seen, then " are two Departments, viz., the Board of Trade and the Com- " missioners of Wend- and Forests, which have the adminjtration " and control of such foreshores. This dual control appears to us "to be unscientific; unnecessary, and a source of inconvenience to " the public, particularly in view of the fact that the two Departments " pursue different policies in their dealings with the foreshore. - ' " We would accordingly recommend that provision should he made or the administration of the fore-shore by one Department in " the public interest, and that for this purpose a transfer of such " foreshore as remains tinder the control of the Commissioners of " Woods and Forests should be made to the Board of Trade, which " has now under it< management, in the public interest, the greater •' part of the foreshores in the United Kingdom which are Crown " propertj ." •■ We do not think that it is necessary to interfere with the owner- •" ship of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests of mines and "minerals under the foreshore; the working of the mines and ■• minerals could, no doubt, be carried out in many cases without •• prejudice to public rights. It will, however, lie necessary to confer •' power on the Board of Trade to prohibit the removal of such mineral " substances on and under the shore when, in their opinion, such " prohibition is necessary in the interests of coast protection." The work of the Foreshores Branch of the Board of Trade consists briefly <>t the consideration of all proposals for works on tidal lands and reclamation schemes; the investigation of claims to foreshore: the grant of (a) conveyances, leases and licences of foreshore; and (b) licences for the landing of international submarine cables; the control of the removal of materials: the consideration of bye-laws affecting foreshore; examination of Private Bills, Provisional Orders, and many other questions of an allied nature. In the grant of leases or conveyances of any importance, a survey and valuation of the foreshore is made at the expense of the applicants. In smallei cases the annual rental or consideration money is fixed by the Foreshores Branch. The draft deeds are prepared in that Branch 'and settled by the Solicitor to the Board of Trade. The Stall of the Branch consists of 7 administrative and clerical officers, costing annually about £1.600. under the supervision of a Principal Clerk who devotes only part of his time to this work-. N'o member of the staff is exclusively engaged upon operations in connection with the disposal of foreshore from the standpoint of title. 14. Ministry of AcuTcrr.TT T rtE and Fisttf.i;ii.s. The principal properties held by the Ministry consist of 12 estates purchased or leased for the .settlement of ex-Service men and covering an uea ot about 21.000 acres. The approximate value of these estates, in- cluding buildings erected thereon, is £1.035.000, and the annual income produced is about £46.000 against outgoings of £3 1.000. The remaining properties in the occupation of the Ministry consist eralbj of buildings acquired for the conduct of agricultural and fishing experiments and research. N'o -tail of the Ministry is engaged exclusively upon the purchase, sale, or maintenance of these properties. In the case of the Farm Settlements re are local Directors, a portion of whose time i- taken up by the collection of rents from tenants and the superintendence of necessary irs. The approximate cos1 of this work is £1,250 per annum. The principal duty of the M Lnistry in connect ion with the acquisition 6i ' land arise- under the Land Settlement (facilities) Act. 1919. In accord- ance with this .\c( county councils and councils of county boroughs have to obtain the approval of the Ministry to all acquisitions. The normal procedure is for t e council to prepare a valuation either through their own land agenl or by employing an outside professional man. This valuation is submitted to the Ministry, which obtains a report and valua- tion from the local Districl Commissioner of the Ministry (who is in mosl 37 eases a qualified valuer) and also from the District Valuer of the [nland Revenue. The Ministry employs at headquarters a Director of Land Acquisition and a Principal Valuer (hoth of whom are qualified raluers) whose duties include the approval ol such proposals received from local authorities for the acquisition ol land under the hand Settlement scheme and for agricultural educational purpose.-, and also negotiating with regard to any land purchased or sold by the Ministrj in connection with its own Farm Settlements. The Ministry has many other duties in connec- tion with the approval of the sale ol land, as, loi example, under the Universities and College Estates Acts and the Glebe Lands Acts, etc. The professional stall of the Ministry engaged upon the above work, which, it should be noted, is not, in the main, work connected with Government lands, is now in process of reorganisation. When this re- organisation is effected it is anticipated that the .stall will be: — 4 Commissioners, Valuers, etc., at Headquarters. 12 Commissioners (6 permanent, 6 temporary) in charge of the 10 local districts into which England is divided for Land Settlement purposes. 11 Assistant Commissioners (all temporary). 1 Deputy Commissioner. 2 Assistants to Headquarters Commissioners. The cost of this staff is estimated to be £22,100 per annum. The duties of the District Commissioners are briefly as follows: — (1) To value and report fully upon all land which a county council or county borough propose to acquire, giving details of capital and rental value, suitability or otherwise for Small Holdings purposes and any information necessary to enable the Ministry to approve or disapprove of the acquisition.^ (2) To approve or prepare a complete scheme of development and equipment of the land as Small Holdings, and to fix or agree rents. (3) To attend important meetings of county councils and county boroughs and to advise and assist them in the execution of their duties. To watch in every way the expenditure of moneys with a view to ensuring that while the duties cast upon the county councils and the Ministry are discharged efficiently, the utmost possible economy is ensured. (4) Generally to act as the local representatives of the Ministry in all matters connected with the work of the Land Department and to advise the Ministry on all technical and professional land matters arising in their various areas. 15. Scottish Board of Agriculture. The chief properties held by the Scottish Board of A'griculture have been acquired for the purposes of Land Settlement under the Small Holding Colonies Acts, 1916 and 1918, and the Land Settlement (Scotland] Acts, 1919 and 1921. While in England Land Settlement is administered mainly by the county councils under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in Scotland the duties fall directly upon the Scottish Board of Agriculture. The area of the properties acquired amounts to about 300,000 acres (together with 84,000 acres transferred from the Congested Districts Board for Scotland), of which about 294.000 acres were purchased outrighl by capital pay men! or rent charge, 2.230 acres are held on lease and 3,446 acres on feu. In addition the Board have at present in hand under the Small Landholders (Scotland) A. 1886-1919, 70 schemes involving an area of over 100,000 acres in private ownership. 2t 38 All purchases and sales of land and buildings and duties connected with the management of properties :\vr undertaken by the Board through their administrative staff, on the advice of the technical staff. The technical outdoor staff of the Land Division for 1922-23 is as led lows : — 1 Chief Factor. 6 Senior Sub-Commissioners (1 temporary). 12 Sub-Commissioners (7 temporary). 15 Assistant Sub-Commissioners (13 temporary). 1 Chief Surveyor. 1 Assistant Chief Surveyor. 6 District Surveyors (4 temporary). 38 Surveyors and Assistant Surveyors (26 temporary). 37 Other Grades (temporary). The Land Division Staff is at present organised on the basis of six geographical districts, nominally three Highland and three Lowland, each worked by a section under the general charge of a Senior Sub-Commis- sioner and a Staff Clerk, stationed in Edinburgh, with Sub-Commissioners and Assistant Sub-Commissioners in their respective districts. The duties of the Senior Sub-Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners include, subject to the control of the Board: — (a) interviewing and selecting applicants for holdings; (b) inspection and selection of land suitable for settlement by pur- chase or otherwise, and reporting thereon ; (c) the preparation of schemes of sub-division and settlement on areas selected or acquired ; (