HC Deb 23 December 1929 vol 233 cc1889-90
33. Mr. W. B. TAYLOR

asked the Minister of Agriculture what representation, if any, is provided for the smallholders farming land under public ownership at the proposed agricultural conference?

Mr. N. BUXTON

The organisations which have been invited to send representatives to the proposed agricultural conference—namely, the National Farmers' Union, the National Union of Agricultural Workers, the Transport and General Workers' Union (Agricultural `Workers' Section), the Central Landowners' Association, and the Land Union—are, I consider sufficiently representative of the various interests concerned to ensure that the views of all sections of the industry, including statutory smallholders, are expressed and taken into account.

Mr. TAYLOR

Having regard to the fact that there are three organisations not directly associated with agriculture, may I ask why it is that 25,000 smallholders farming under public authority should be shut out from representation?

Mr. BUXTON

Smallholders are represented by the National Farmers' Union, in which they are present in very large numbers.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

May I ask the Minister on what grounds he is including in this conference the Land Union, a purely political body and excluding from it the movement for the taxation of land values? May I press for a reason?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a subject for debate and not for Question Time.