HC Deb 30 June 1910 vol 18 cc1103-4
Mr. WINFREY

asked what steps are being taken to secure suitable land for the approved applicants at Newborough; and whether, seeing it is twelve months since the county council refused to sanction the proposal of their own Small Holdings Committee for the compulsory purchase of land, the Board of Agriculture are now prepared to carry out their powers and duties under the Act?

Sir E. STRACHEY

The Board have not lost sight of this matter, but they thought it better to defer taking action with respect to it until the Bill now before the House for the Amendment of the Small Holdings Act has become law. The provisions of that Bill should go very far to remove the objections of the county council to acquire land compulsorily for the purposes of the Act.

Mr. HAMERSLEY

asked whether, having regard to the Report of the Small Holdings Commissioners advocating the establishment of co-operative societies and credit banks as a necessary factor in the success of the small holding movement, and the statement that the establishment of these co-operative societies should be undertaken by the county councils, and the fact that the county councils have no funds out of which they could support these societies, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture would place on the Supplementary Estimates a grant of money out of the Small Holdings Fund for the use by county councils for the promotion and establishment of these cooperative societies and credit banks?

Sir E. STRACHEY

The Board already give a grant to the Agricultural Organisation Society out of the Small Holdings Account for the promotion of co-operation, but there is no provision in the Act authorising grants from the Small Holdings Account being made to the county councils for that purpose. The matter is, however, one to which the Board are giving very careful consideration, and they hope to devise means for the extension of the co-operative movement throughout the country.

Mr. C. BATHURST

I should like to ask the hon. Baronet whether the Government propose to act on the recommendation contained in the report of the Departmental Committee on Small Holdings in 1906, to the effect that an advance should be made out of the Post Office Savings Bank deposits upon security provided by a Central Agricultural Credit Association.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member ought to give notice of that question.