RURAL COMMONS. 281 
tives of the Commons Society, Mr. Fawcett, Lord E. 
Fitzmaurice, Sir Charles Dilke, Sir William Harcourt, 
Mr. Bryce, and myself, combined in a determined effort 
to improve the Bill. We succeeded in inducing the 
House to adopt a considerable number of amend- 
ments in the direction of strengthening the measure 
against inclosures, and also in the interests of agri- 
cultural labourers. We obtained the insertion of a pro- 
vision of the utmost value, directing the Inclosure 
Commissioners not to proceed in any case, until they 
were satisfied that the inclosure would be for the 
benefit of the neighbourhood, as well as for private 
interests. The preamble was also altered in accord- 
ance with this direction to the Commissioners. 
Securities were taken for the adequate ascertainment 
of local opinion, by means of public meetings at a 
time when the labourers could attend; and amend- 
ments were made in the provisions with respect to 
recreation grounds and allotments. The Commissioners 
were also instructed to luy out paths and roads, so as to 
give access to the tops of hills or to picturesque parts 
of the lands inclosed. A /ocus standi was given to local 
authorities to object to the inclosures of Commons. 
Finally, the thirty-eight schemes which had originally 
been scheduled in the Bill for confirmation of inclo- 
sure, were taken out of it, and were relegated again to 
the Commissioners, to be dealt with, ad ¢nitio, on the 
principles laid down in the measure. As a result of 
this, the Commissioners eventually reported that they 
could not recommend inclosure in eighteen out of the 
