A collection of completed forms relating to agricultural development, rating and conditions of tenancy and also to general conditions, housing and wages - part of the government's Land Question Inquiry in 1912. Only a few relate to urban districts. Some of the returns are full and candid. Others are scrappy and non-committal. The areas covered are:
Caernarfonshire Rural : parishes of Aberdaron, Abererch, Bodferin, Botwnnog, Bryncroes, Carnguwch, Clynnog Fawr, Cricieth, Edern, Dolbenmaen, Llandegwning, Llangybi, Llanarmon, Llanaelhaearn, Llanengan, Llangan, Llangwnnadl, Llangybi, Llanfair-is-gaer, Llanystumdwy, Mellteyrn, Pistyll, Rhiw and Treflys.
Anglesey Rural : parishes of Aberffraw, Llangwyfan, Llanfaelog, Llanbadrig, Llandyfrydog, Llanfihangel Dinsylwy, Llanddeusant, Llanfaethlu, Llantrisant, Llannerchymedd, Rhodogeidio, Heneglwys, Llanfechell, Llanbadrig, Llangoed, Penmon, Penrhoslligwy, Rhosybol, Trewalchmai, as well as the western side of Anglesey.
Other rural counties : parish of Llandderfel and several parishes on the borders of Denbighshire and Merionethshire. Urban investigations : Beaumaris and Holyhead in Anglesey, Ffestiniog in Merionethshire and Llandudno and Caernarfon in Caernarfonshire.
These are the words of Alderman G. Hughes Roberts, J.P., of Glanrhyd, Edern in whose custory they were and who very generously donated them to this Library :
"Priodol fyddai i mi roddi gair o eglurhad ar fy nghysylltiad a'r gwaith dan sylw. Yn y flwyddyn 1912 pryd yr oedd Mr Asquith yn Brif Weinidog a Mr Lloyd George yn Ganghellor y Trysorlys, pasiwyd i wneud ymchwiliad manwl i bwnc y tir, a phenodwyd personau ar hyd a lled y wlad i wneud ymchwiliad. Gofynwyd i mi gymeryd gofal Mon, Arfon a rhan o sir Ddinbych a Meirion. Cefais helf arbennig gan fy nghyfaill, Mr Ellis Davies [A.S. dros ranbarth Eifion y pryd hwnnw]... a chefais rai o ddynion mwyaf adnabyddus y wlad i lenwi y ffurflenni ac i'm cynorthwyo gyda'r gwaith. Anfonais luaws o'r ffurflenni i Lundain ond cefais help i wneud copi ohonynt i'w gadw fyhunan, tra y mae nifer o rai eraill (gwreiddiol) yn y bwndel sydd gennyf...
Fel y gwelwch, mae un math o ffurflen yn delio gyda :
1. Agricultural Development
2. Rating
3. Conditions of tenancy
tra y delia y llall gyda :
1. General conditions
2. Housing
3. Wages
Ychydig fu fy ymwneud a'r ymchwiliad ynglyn a'r 'Urban Districts' ond amgaeaf un yn ymwneud a Ffestiniog a Llandudno [anghofiodd G.H.R. fod yma eraill,sef adroddidadau Beaumaris, Caergybi a Chaernarfon]"
The letter A. will stand for the first type of return (agricultural development etc.) B. for the second (general conditions etc.)