NEW FOREST ASSOCIATION. At a MEETING of the NEW FOREST ASSOCIATION, held at LYNDHURST, on SAUTRDAY, the 4th of AUGUST, 1888, pursuant to notice, there were present – J.E.B. EYRE, W.C.D. ESDAILE, J. LOVELL, W. GASGOIGNE RAY, R. HARGREAVES, M. PETO, W.C.

Description: Minutes of a meeting of the New Forest Association. The first that had been held since August 1877, convened because of the 'evidence given by the Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest before the Forestry Committee in 1887' and because a 'new Association was being formed, called "New Forest Old Woods Protection Society"'. Although the date for the meeting had been fixed so that Lord Montagu could attend, Lord Montagu was unfit to attend but had written a letter (3rd Aug. 1888, 3, Tilney Street, Park Lane, W) to be read out in which he recorded how the NFA had not seen the need to meet for roughly ten years, how he had regarded the Act 1879 as a Peace Treaty 'between the Commoners and the public on the one hand and the Crown on the other' and how this had worked, 'on the whole. satisfactorily'. He described how relations between the Court of Verderers with the Office of Woods had been as good as could be expected. The justification for the meeting being called was a statement in the Parliamentary Blue Book by the officers in charge of the Forest that the Act of 1877 was 'unworkable' that it has failed in its object of preserving the Forest; that everything in the shape of Forest managementis put a stop to - felling forbidden, planting forbidden, everything being at a deadlock', this Lord Montagu took to mean that the Act was unworkable from the viewpoint of the author because the evidence he had given to the Forestry Committee was for further enclosure of the old woods. The reiteration of views and 'of the same grounds of attack upon the Commoners and the Public rights, which we have fought before, and which we must if need be, fight again, and defeat again' was sufficient justification for the revival of the NFA and 'preparation for serious action if forced upon us'. Care was needed to avoid confrontation between the Crown and Commoners which could 'prove' that the Act was 'unworkable'. NFA's founding principles to protect the rights of the Commoners and those of the Public in the enjoyments of the Forest, the maintenance of the old woods, and general picturesque aspect of the Forest remained the best way to provide the greatest protection. Lord Montagu queried whether the opinion of one person could threaten the 1877 Act but it was better to be ready. New NFA members were chosen: W.C. Ward Jackson, Morton Peto, and J. Attwood. Mr. Lovell outlined the reasons for the formation of the Association for the new members: formed when the Crown claimed the power to enclose and plant the Forest, and to cut down ancient timer; the Association had managed to preserve the old wood and maintain what remained of open Forest. Proposal by Mr. Everett, seconded Mr J. Attwood, that the chairman should minute the day's proceedings including Lord Montagu's letters for members, their friends and the newspapers. Proposal by Mr. Lovell, seconded Mr. Ray, that to promote unity of action, individual members should not write to the newspapers 'in case of any questions arising as to the Act of 1877 and its administration' rider to this 'matter of caution rather than prohibition'. Re: "The New Forest Old Woods Protection Society" being promoted by the Honourable Auberon Herbert, the chairman was in touch with him and others, and whilst the new Society might agree with what the old Association might say and do, the opposite might not be true. Nonetheless, members of one could be members of the other and both organisations could work side by side - amalgamation was 'deprecated'. Consequent proposal by Mr. J.E.B. Eyre, seconded by Mr. Ray, that because the Association raised funds by a 'voluntary rate' it could not 'entertain the question of amalgamation with the New Forest Old Woods Protection Society'. Resolutions passed related to (1) raising funds without involving owners and occupiers of lands with Common Rights, (2) call a General Meeting to elect a Chairman and Secretary and generally transact business in October, (3) the past Honorary Secretary to convene a General Meeting upon a 'requisition to him by three members of the Association'. Noted £65 16s 9d banked with Mssrs. Maddison's Bank, Southampton.

Publisher: New Forest Association

Period covered: August 1888

Format: Draft minute and circulated minute: Printed and folded

Primary Reference: 300000010

Last import: December 21, 2022