HC Deb 27 November 1893 vol 18 c1786
MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of the population of Balintore, Hill of Fearn, and the surrounding districts of Easter Ross, petitioned the County Council in December, 1892, for allotments; that after several meetings of a sub-committee of the County Council were held, Mr. Alexander Ross, a member of the Council, acting for the Petitioners, was informed by Mr. Duncan, the Clerk of the Council, that the matter could not be proceeded with unless he (Mr. Ross) was prepared to pay for the necessary advertisements, and he was subsequently informed that he would be required to guarantee the whole of the preliminary expenses, which would amount to nearly £200; and that, in consequence of the repeated delays, there is every probability of the question being shunted for another year; and whether the Scottish Office will take steps, before the meeting of the County Council in December next, to press forward the matter, so that the people may secure allotments without further delay, and that individual members of the Ross-shire County Council shall not be required to enter into financial obligations of the nature indicated?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

On inquiry I find that, at the meeting referred to by the hon. Member of the Small Holdings and Allotments Committee of the Ross and Cromarty County Council on the 8th instant, it was resolved— That Mr. Boss undertakes to pay all the expenses of advertising and other preliminary expenses if the Council do not make a Provisional Order following on proposed advertisements. They further instruct the clerk to delay serving the notices required by Section 3 (3) (b) of the Allotments Act until December meeting of the Council has dealt with the matter. It appears that Mr. Ross agreed to the terms of this resolution, and all I can say is that I trust that the agreement so considerately entered into by him, in order to save time, will be favourably considered by the County Council, within whose jurisdiction the matter rests. The County Council of Ross and Cromarty are, I understand, doing what they can, within the powers at their command, to facilitate the acquisition of allotments under the Act.