THE NEW FOREST. 245 
Later, in 1591, it came to the ears of the Verderers 
of the New Forest that the War Department proposed 
to establish a rifle range in the Forest under the recent 
Act, and to drive the Commoners off S00 acres, and 
to cut them off completely from a large part of the 
Forest. The Forest district was in arms directly the 
fact became public, and from all parts of the country 
the aid of the Commons Society was invoked to protect 
“the National Playground.” 
The Government was eventually compelled to 
promise a local inquiry in the Forest, as to the 
expediency of the proposed rifle range. 
The Commissioner appointed for this purpose, Mr. 
Pelham, ultimately reported that the range would cause 
substantial interference with the Commoners’ rights, and 
that it would be extremely difficult to ascertain who 
should be compensated ; that the range as proposed 
would deprive the public of the enjoyment of a very 
beautiful part of the Forest; and that if another site 
could be found elsewhere, the proposed site should 
certainly not be taken. 
In the meantime, the Secretary of State for War, in 
pursuance of a promise which he had given, introduced 
a Military Lands Consolidation Bill. This measure was 
referred to a Select Committee on which the writer of 
this book took an active part. After much discussion, 
a clause was inserted making it obligatory on the War 
Department to proceed by way of Provisional Order 
before acquiring any common land for the purpose of 
rifle ranges. By this measure, therefore, all Commons 
