HC Deb 26 June 1925 vol 185 cc1923-4
Captain BOURNE

I beg to move, in page 1, line 8, to leave out the words "allotment or."

This is a purely drafting Amendment, in order to bring in the definition contained in the next Amendment standing in my name. Hon. Members who were on the Committee will recollect that during the Committee stage we promised to try to introduce a definition of "allotment" which would be more satisfactory than the one in the Bill, and the next Amendment represents what we have arrived at. It is taken partly from the Act of 1922, which states that an allotment is any parcel of land … of not more than two acres in extent … cultivated as a farm or a garden, or partly as a garden, and partly as a farm. On looking into the matter, however, we found that the Act of 1908 laid down a limit of five acres as the maximum that any local authority can acquire for the purpose of allotments, and, as the local authority has already power to acquire up to five acres for this purpose, it seems to us reasonable that the limit of five acres should be put into the Bill. That is the object of these two Amendments.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made:

In page 1, line 9, at the end insert the words or any parcel of land not more than five acres in extent cultivated or intended to be cultivated as a garden or farm, or partly as a garden and partly as a farm."—[Captain Bourne.]

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

The next Amendment standing in the name of the hon. and gallant Member for Oxford (Captain Bourne)—in page 1, line 12, at the end to insert Approved society means a society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1923, or the Friendly Societies Acts, 1896 to 1924, which by its constitution or otherwise is restricted in relation to the rate of interest on share and loan capital, and the distribution of profits amongst its members, so as to comply with the regulations made in that behalf by the Treasury or a company registered under the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1918, which does not trade for profit or whose constitution forbids the issue of-any share or loan capital with interest or dividend exceeding the rate for the time being prescribed by the Treasury— should come by way of Amendment to the governing definition in Sub-section (8) of Clause 2. That is the proper place for it.

Captain BOURNE

On a point of Order. The reason for this Amendment is that the term "approved society" is used elsewhere in the Bill besides in Clause 2, and therefore we think it should be given in the definition Clause.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

Sub-section (8) of Clause 2 says that For the purposes of this Act 'approved society' means a society registered"— and so on. If the hon. and gallant Member does not think that the definition given is satisfactory, he can move to amend it by inserting these words there, which I think is the proper place.