7^ LAND REFORM 



and the rights of the poor/ though they might be 

 talked about, had been frequently taken away under 

 that system." (Hansard, Vol. 75, p. 301.) 



The Prime Minister (Sir Robert Peel), in his speech 

 on the second reading of the Bill, said : — 



" As to the actual rights, the House must be cautious 

 how they deal lightly with those rights. . . . The 

 rights of common connected them (the peasantry) 

 with the soil. The riofht of turnino;^ a gfoose on a 

 common made a man feel interested in the tenure of 

 land. It might be more beneficial to him to accept 

 two or three pounds," but recollect that you are not 

 dealing with the rights of the individual, but with 

 those of his successors." (Hansard, Vol. Jt^ P- 97^-) 



In the face of this opposition the Bill was withdrawn, 

 but the promoters persevered and managed to secure 

 the appointment of a Select Committee "to inquire 

 into the expediency of facilitating the inclosure of 

 commons, etc." This Committee, "after taking the 

 evidence of competent and experienced witnesses," 



' It must be remembered that the peasantry and labourers of all con- 

 ditions, were described in official and other language of the time as "the 

 poor" and the "labouring poor." 



' Even in cases where a few pounds compensation were given, if the 

 cottager happened to be a tenant, the compensation was paid to the 

 owner of the dwelling to which the common rights were attached. 

 The claims of the cottager, who by long custom had enjoyed those 

 rights, were entirely ignored. He was simply turned out. In any case, 

 as the Prime Minister points out, the incloscr had no moral right to buy, 

 much less to take without buying, that which the commoner had no right 

 to sell. The rights of the commoners were very many. The common 

 of pasture was the principal one. Among others there were " Estovers " 

 (the right of cutting underwood and timber for fuel and repairs of build- 

 ings, making fences, etc.), "Turbary" (the right of culling peat and tuif 

 for fuel, furze and ferns for the fodder and litter of cattle), "Pannage" 

 (.right of turning swine into the woods to feed on acorns), etc. 



