§ Read 3a (according to Order), with the Amendments.
§ Clause 10:
§ Restriction on publication of agricultural charges.
§ (4) For the purpose of this section, "publication" means the issue of copies to the public, and "publish" has a corresponding meaning, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing definition the issue by an association representative of a particular trade of a circular to its members shall not be deemed to be publication for the purposes of this section.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF STRADBROKE) moved, in subsection (4), to leave out "issue," where that word secondly occurs, and to insert "confidential notification"; also to leave out "of a circular"; and, after "members" to insert "trading or carrying on business in the district in which property subject to an agricultural charge is situate of the creation of the charge." The noble Earl said: My Lords, if you agree, I propose to take these Amendments all together, as the words are consequential upon one another. The words that I ask you to amend were inserted in the Bill after an undertaking had been given in another place that it would be made clear that Clause 10 allowed traders to inform the members of their association that the farmers had taken out a charge on their agricultural produce, and for that reason certain lines were inserted in subsection (4).
1523 After the clause had been passed, it was found that the words went rather farther than was intended, and that they might be interpreted to give permission to the traders to issue a general circular which might fall into the hands of people who were not directly interested in the fact that a farmer had taken out an agricultural charge. For that reason I think your Lordships will agree with me that it is desirable that the words of the clause should be limited, and it is all the more desirable because the words have been agreed upon between the traders and the farmers' associations. So I think your Lordships will deem it right that these words should be inserted. They will have the effect of limiting the notification made to traders and those carrying on the business in the district where the farmer who has taken out an agricultural charge resides. The notification also will be confidential. I beg therefore to move these Amendments.
§
Amendments moved—
Clause 10, page 12, line 23, leave out ("issue") and insert ("confidential notification")
Clause 10, page 12, lines 24 and 25, leave out ("of a circular")
Clause 10, page 12, line 25, after ("members") insert ("trading or carrying on business in the district in which property subject to an agricultural charge is situate of the creation of the charge").—(The Earl of Stradbroke).
§ On Question, Amendments agreed to.
§ Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.