HC Deb 08 March 1888 vol 323 cc573-5
MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he is aware that on the 16th February, a deputation from Farnborough attended before the Rural Sanitary Authority at Banbury, and, after pointing out the failure of the steps which had been taken to procure land for allotments by agreement, called upon the Authority to purchase 27 acres of land compulsorily, under the Allotments Act; and that the Chairman told the depuation that To put the Act into force and take land compulsorily would cause as much expanse as they could buy the land for, and added that He might as well tell the deputation honestly that, if they were to buy land forcibly, it would cost as much as £400 (meaning, apparently, exclusive of the price of the land), and would take two years to do it; and, whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to these statements, and repeat to the Chairman of the Banbury Rural Sanitary Authority the assurances which were given by Members of the Government when the Bill was before Parliament last Session, that the procedure for compulsorily acquiring land would be cheap and practicable?

THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

I have communicated with the Banbury Rural Sanitary Authority, and I learn that a deputation attended a meeting of that Authority with reference to land being obtained for allotments for the labouring population of Farnborough. The deputation were asked whether they had not had land in a suitable position offered to them for the purpose at a reasonable rent, and they replied that they had. The only difficulty appeared to be that they were called upon to erect a fence to separate this land from other land belonging to the same farm. I am informed that the Chairman stated generally that if land were taken compulsorily the cost would be about £400, and that it would probably take about two years before possession could be obtained; but no remark was made as to purchasing compulsorily the piece of land referred to by the deputation, as it could be obtained without compulsory powers. If a Sanitary Authority promote a Provisional Order under the Allotments Act, and the Order is not opposed in Parliament, compulsory powers can be obtained at a small expense; but if the Order is opposed in Parliament the Committee are empowered to award costs, to be paid by the opponents if the Committee consider that the opposition was not justified by the circumstances. This has been explained to the Chairman of the Sanitary Authority.

MR. JESSE COLLINGS (Birmingham, Bordesley)

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman would issue a Memorandum calling the attention of the Authorities to the provisions of the Act?

MR. RITCHIE

said, that he had long since anticipated the hon. Gentleman's suggestion and sent Circulars to all the Rural Sanitary Authorities?

MR. STAVELEY HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)

asked, whether any answers had been received to the communications sent by the Local Government Board?

MR. RITCHIE

said, that the Local Government Board made no inquiries of the Authorities, and therefore no answers were to be expected. The Memorandum simply explained the provisions of the Act.