§ For the purpose of removing doubts it is hereby declared that the occupier of any land used as allotments shall be assessed to the general district rate in an urban district or to a separate rate levied in respect of special expenses within the meaning of The Public Health Act, 1875, in a rural district, in the proportion of one-fourth part only of the net annual value or rateable value of such land.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWith regard to this new Clause, it does not appear to me to be in order. It is superfluous. I understand that it is being moved for the purpose of removing doubts. It is not in order to move an amendment which changes the burden of the rates. It seems to me that the Clause must have that effect, or else be superfluous.
§ Mr. ACLANDIt is, in a sense, superfluous, in this way that it does exactly in the ipsissima verba state what the law is at present. It is interesting, when working in connection with Allotment 860 Societies, to notice how very little the law with regard to rating is understood, and this Amendment is an exact quotation from a very little known Act—I have only one copy of it and I am continually sending it to these Societies—and it seems to me to be legitimate when dealing with an Allotments Bill that the existing law should be set out clearly with regard to rating. I think the Minister of Agriculture ought to give some consideration to this point for the purpose of removing doubts. For these reasons I thought it was legitimate to endeavour to get this new Clause inserted in the Bill.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt seems to me rather difficult to have the same Clause in two Acts of Parliament at the same time.
Sir A. BOSCAWENI suggest that this new Clause is not really necessary. It merely declares what is the existing law, and, as regards removing doubts, my Department will circulate a leaflet making it perfectly clear how these allotment gardens are to be rated for these purposes.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat makes it clear. We cannot insert a Clause which already exists in another Statute.