§ 9 and 10. Mr. SANDERSasked the President of the Board of Agriculture (9) whether his attention has been called to the advocacy at by-elections by certain Members of this House of the imposition of further burdens on land; and whether the Board is prepared to sanction further expenditure by county councils on the purchase of land for small holdings, in view of the depreciation in the value of their security that would be caused were such policy carried out; and (10) whether the Board will warn county councils of the danger of further advances under Clause 19 of the Small Holdings Act, 1908, in view of the risk of depreciation in land which would be caused were the policy advocated by certain Members of this House at recent by-elections to be carried into effect?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not know what speeches the hon. Member refers to, but I see no necessity whatever for the issue of any such warning as he suggests to county councils or to make any change in the practice of the Board with regard to expenditure by county councils on the purchase of land for small holdings.
§ Mr. SANDERSDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider the policy of the question is what is colloquially termed "mere eyewash"?