§ Every parish council shall, at the request of not fewer than six applicants, approved by their union or other similar body, purchase or lease land for allotments within reasonable distance of the homes of the applicants, within the space of one calendar year from the date of the application.—[Colonel Wedgwood.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
The present arrangements whereby parish councils can acquire land for allotments is provided for under the Allotments Act, 1908, which says:
If the council of any parish are of opinion that there is a demand for allotments, and that such allotments cannot be obtained at a reasonable rent, the council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments.In Sub-section (2) of the same Section we have a system provided by which the action of the council is to be initiated, and it lays down that:On a representation in writing by any six registered residents in the parish that the circumstances of the parish are such that it is the duty of the council to take proceedings, the council shall take such representations into consideration.From that it is clear that the parish council is not compelled to take action, but merely to take the matter into consideration. By this Amendment now before the House we are seeking to somewhat strengthen the power of the people in the parish to get the allotments they require. The Allotments Act, 1908, has been largely a dead letter because of two things. In the first place the representation—
§ Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERAfter the references which the hon. and gallant Member has made to the Allotments Act, 1908, it seems quite clear to me now that this New Clause makes it absolutely mandatory to purchase or lease land, and therefore there can be no question that it does not impose a charge.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI will address myself to that point. There is no suggestion that there should be any charge on the ratepayers whatsover. The land acquired, whether by purchase or by lease, will be let to the allotment holders at a rent to cover the expenses of the council. In another Clause of the Bill, we are dealing with the question of raising the limit of the penny rate, and it is absolutely unnecessary that there should be any charge on the ratepayers if this New Clause be carried. It will simply mean that the land has to be acquired on lease or purchased compulsorily, and it can only be let to the respective allotment holders at a rent to cover the expenses of the council. Therefore, I submit that neither under the Act of 1908 nor under this New Clause need there necessarily be any charge whatever upon the ratepayers.
§ Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThe council might have to charge such a rent as it would not be possible for the tenants to pay, and I must maintain the principle that anything which imposes a charge, or might impose a charge, upon the rates cannot be considered on Report.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI think it is rather important that we should be allowed to amend the machinery, which at present does not involve any charge upon the rates, by methods which no more than the present machinery will involve any charge on the rates.
§ Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThat might perhaps be done in Committee, but I am afraid I must maintain the principle that on Report we cannot admit anything which might possibly involve a charge. The next Clause—(Gross rateable value of land for allotments not to be increased)—in the name of the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) would be in order as an Amendment to Clause 10, but it is not in order here.