§ Dr. ADDISONI beg to move, in page 16, line 18, to leave out from the beginning to the word "without" in line 22, and to insert instead thereof the words:
(5) The Minister may, after the date of the commencement of this Act, approve proposals and estimates submitted to him for the purposes of this section before that date, but where the land to which any proposals relate has been acquired before the first day of January, nineteen hundred and thirty-one, or is after the commencement of this Act acquired.This is an Amendment to make clear the power of the Minister to defray the losses incurred by local authorities in providing allotment gardens for unemployed persons. If a number of authorities wish to enter into contracts to purchase land for allotments, they can do so under this proposal.
Mr. GUINNESSI do not object to allotment gardens for unemployed persons, but I wish to protest against the financial precedent which appears to be created by this procedure. As I understand this Amendment, it gives retrospective sanction to expenditure which has been incurred lay local authorities on the authority of the Minister. I should like to have that point cleared up. I admit that this proposal is within the four corners of the scheme set out in the Bill, and it comes under the organisation which the Minister has created. After what the Minister has said I have a very 311 strong conviction that this expenditure has only been incurred by the local authorities on the understanding that they would be repaid under the provisions of this Bill. I do not wish to discuss the point any further, but I desire to register a strong protest against the Amendment.
§ Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONWe have no information whatever As to the local authorities who have spent this money, as to the amount of money they have spent, or what commitments they have incurred.
§ Dr. ADDISONWe undertake by this Bill to provide seeds and fertilisers for allotment holders. I quite recognise the difficulties which have been pointed out.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLAccording to the arrangement now suggested, any Government in power can delegate authority to local authorities to do what they like. Practically the local authorities are being told that, although they may meet with a certain amount of opposition, the Government will be able to put that right. I have always been bitterly opposed to retrospective legislation, which is one of the worst things that can happen. I am entirely opposed to it, and I am particularly opposed to it when a Member of the Government takes power unto himself to say that this or that thing may
§ be done. In those circumstances what would be the position of the local authorities? Somebody would have to discharge their accounts, and are we to say that it the local authorities do not pay the Government will pay? I hope that what is now proposed will not be taken as a precedent, as I do not want anyone to be able in the future to say: "Such a thing was done on the 10th of February, 1931." It is on that account that I raise my protest, and I bitterly resent the action which has been taken by the Government.
Mr. R.. W. SMITHI want to protest against this Clause. I do not want to take up the time of the Committee, but the Minister says that the reason for this Clause is largely because the sowing season is approaching. If the Government had introduced this Measure at a reasonable time, when we asked them for a Measure relating to agriculture, they would have been able to obtain a Measure in sufficient time to avoid the necessity for this Clause.
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause," put, and negatived.
§ Question put, "That these words be there inserted."
§ The Committee divided: Ayes, 260; Noes, 144.
315| Division No. 142.] | AYES. | [8.1 p.m. |
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Buxton, C. R. (Yorks. W. R. Elland) | Glassey, A. E. |
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Caine, Derwent Hall- | Gossling. A. G. |
| Addison, Rt. Hon. Dr. Christopher | Cameron, A. G. | Gould, F. |
| Aitchison, Rt. Hon. Craigie M. | Caps. Thomas | Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) |
| Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (Hillsbro') | Carter, W. (St. Pancras, S.W.) | Graham, Rt. Hon. Wm. (Edin., Cent.) |
| Angell, Sir Norman | Charleton, H. C. | Granville, E. |
| Arnott, John | Clarke, J. S. | Gray, Milner |
| Aske, Sir Robert | Cluse, W. S. | Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Cocks, Frederick Seymour | Griffith, F. Kingsley (Middlesbro' W.) |
| Ayles, Walter | Compton. Joseph | Grilfiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) |
| Baker, John (Wolverhampton, Bilston) | Cove, William G. | Groves, Thomas E. |
| Baldwin, Oliver (Dudley) | Cripps, Sir Stafford | Grundy Thomas W. |
| Barnes, Alfred John | Daggar, George | Hall, F. (York, W.R., Normanton) |
| Batey, Joseph | Dallas, George | Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) |
| Beckett, John (Camberwell, Peckham) | Davies, E. C. (Montgomery) | Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) |
| Bellamy, Albert | Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Hall, Capt. W. G. (Portsmouth, C.) |
| Bennett, Sir E. N. (Cardiff, Central) | Day, Harry | Hamilton, Mary Agnes (Blackburn) |
| Bennett, William (Battersea, South) | Dudgeon, Major C. R. | Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Zetland) |
| Benson, G. | Dukes, C. | Hardle, George D. |
| Blindell, James | Ede, James Chuter | Harris, Percy A. |
| Bondfield, Rt. Hon. Margaret | Edmunds, J. E. | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) | Hastings, Dr. Somerville |
| Broad, Francis Alfred | Edwards, E. (Morpeth) | Haycock, A. W. |
| Brockway, A. Fenner | Egan, W. H. | Heyday, Arthur |
| Bromfield, William | Elmley, Viscount | Hayes, John Henry |
| Bromley, J. | Foot, Isaac | Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) |
| Brooke, W. | Forgan, Dr. Robert | Henderson, Arthur, Junr. (Cardiff, S.) |
| Brothers, M. | Gardner, B. W. (West Ham. Upton) | Henderson, Thomas (Glasgow) |
| Brown, Ernest (Leith) | George, Megan Lloyd (Anglesea) | Henderson, W. W. (Middx., Enfield) |
| Brown, Rt. Hon. J, (South Ayrshire) | Gibbins, Joseph | Herriotts, J. |
| Buchanan, G. | Gibson, H. M. (Lanes, Mossley) | Hirst, G. H. (York W. R. Wentworth) |
| Burgess, F. G. | Gill, T. H. | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) |
| Hoffman, P. C. | Maxton, James | Shield, George William |
| Holline, A. | Melville, Sir James | Shiels, Dr. Drummond |
| Hopkin, Daniel | Middleton, G. | Shillaker, J. F. |
| Hore-Bellsha, Leslie | Milner, Major J. | Shinwell, E. |
| Horrabin, J. F. | Montague, Frederick | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) |
| Hudson, James H. (Huodersfield) | Morgan, Dr. H. B. | Simmons, C. J. |
| Hunter, Dr. Joseph | Morley, Ralph | Sinclair, Sir A. (Caithness) |
| Isaacs, George | Morris, Rhys Hopkins | Sitch, Charles H. |
| Jenkins, Sir William | Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) | Smith, Alfred (Sunderland) |
| John, William (Rhondda, West) | Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Hackney, S.) | Smith, Frank (Nuneaton) |
| Johnston, Thomas | Mort, D. L. | Smith, H. B. Lees. (Keighley) |
| Jones, F. Llewellyn- (Flint) | Mosley, Lady C. (Stoke-on-Trent) | Smith, Rennie (Penistone) |
| Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth) | Motley, Sir Oswald (Smethwick) | Smith, Tom (Pontefract) |
| Jones, J. J. (West Ham, S[...]vertown) | Muff, G. | Smith, W. R. (Norwich) |
| Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Muggeridge, H. T. | Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip |
| Jowett, Rt. Hon. F. W. | Murnin, Hugh | Sorensen, R. |
| Jowitt, Sir W. A. (Preston) | Noel Baker, P. J. | Stamford, Thomas W. |
| Kedward, R. M. (Kent, Ashford) | Noel-Buxton, Baroness (Norfolk, N.) | Stephen, Campbell |
| Kennedy, Rt. Hon. Thomas | Oldfield, J. R. | Stewart, J. (St. Rollox) |
| Kinley, J. | Oliver, George Harold (Ilkeston) | Strauss, G. R. |
| Kirkwood, D. | Oliver, p. M. (Man., Blackley) | Sullivan, J. |
| Knight, Holford | Owen, Major G. (Carnarvon) | Sutton, J. E. |
| Lang, Gordon | Palln, John Henry | Taylor, R. A. (Lincoln) |
| Lansbury, Rt. Hon. George | Paling, Wilfrid | Taylor, W. B. (Norfolk, S.W.) |
| Lathan, G. | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) | Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) |
| Law, Albert (Bolton) | Perry, S. F. | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Law, A. (Rossendale) | Peters, Dr. Sidney John | Toole, Joseph |
| Lawrie, Hugh Hartley (Stalybridge) | Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. | Tout, W. J. |
| Lawther W. (Barnard Castle) | Phillips, Dr. Marlon | Townend, A. E. |
| Leach, W. | Picton-Turbervill, Edith | Vaughan, David |
| Lee, Frank (Derby, N.E.) | Pole, Major D. G. | Viant, S. P. |
| Leo, Jennie (Lanark, Northern) | Potts, John S. | Walkden, A. G. |
| Lees, J. | Price, M. P. | Walker, J. |
| Lewis, T. (Southampton) | Pybus, Percy John | Wallace H. W. |
| Lloyd, C. Ellis | Quibell, D. J. K. | Watkins. F. C. |
| Logan, David Gilbert | Ramsay, T. B. Wilson | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline) |
| Longbottom, A. W. | Rathbone, Eleanor | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Longden, F. | Raynes, W. R. | Wellock, Wilfred |
| Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) | Richards, R. | Welsh, James (Paisley) |
| MacDonald, Malcolm (Bassetlaw) | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) | Welsh, James C. (Coatbridge) |
| McEntee, V. L. | Rlley, Ben (Dewsbury) | West, F. R. |
| McKinlay, A. | Rlley, F, F. (Stockton-on-Tees) | Westwood, Joseph |
| MacLaren, Andrew | Ritson, J. | White, H. G. |
| Maclean, Sir Donald (Cornwall, N.) | Romeril, H. G. | Whiteley, Wilfrid (Birm., Ladywood) |
| Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | Rosbotham, D. S. T. | Williams, David (Swansea, East) |
| McShane, John James | Rowson, Guy | Williams, Dr. J. H. (Llanelly) |
| Malone, C. L'Estrange (N'thampton) | Samuel, Rt. Hon. sir H. (Darwen) | Williams, T. (York. Don Valley) |
| Mander, Geoffrey Is M. | Sanders, W. S. | Wilson. C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe) |
| Mansfield, W. | Sawyer, G. F. | Wilson, J- (Oldham) |
| Marcus, M. | Scott, James | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| Markham, S. F. | Scrymgeour, E. | Winterton, G. E.(Leicester,Loughb'gh) |
| Marley, J. | Scurr, John | Wood, Major McKenzie (Banff) |
| Marshall, Fred | Sexton, Sir James | |
| Mathers, George | Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston) | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Matters, L. W. | Sherwood, G. H. | Mr. Ben Smith and Mr. Thurtle. |
| NOES. | ||
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Cayzer, Maj.Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth.S.) | England, Colonel A. |
| Ainsworth, Lieut.-Col. Charles | Chamberlain, Rt.Hn. Sir J.A.(Birm.,W.) | Erskine, Lord (Somerset,Weston-s.-M.) |
| Albery, Irving James | Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Edgbaston) | Everard, W. Lindsay |
| Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. | Chapman, Sir S. | Falle, Sir Bertram G. |
| Atkinson, C. | Christle, J. A. | Ferguson. Sir John |
| Balfour, George (Hampstead) | Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer | Fermoy, Lord |
| Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. | Clydesdale, Marquess of | Fielden, E. B. |
| Bellairs, Commander Carlyon | Cobb, Sir Cyril | Fison, F. G, Clavering |
| Bevan, S. J. (Holborn) | Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George | Ford, Sir P. J. |
| Birchall, Major Sir John Dearman | Cohen, Major J. Brunel | Forestler-Walker, Sir L. |
| Bird, Ernest Roy | Colville, Major D. J. | Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. |
| Boothby, R. J. G. | Courtauld, Major J. S. | Galbraith, J. F. W. |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Croft. | Courthope, Colonel Sir G. L. | Gibson, C. G. (Pudsey & Otley) |
| Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart | Cranborne, Viscount | Gower, Sir Robert |
| Boyce, Leslie | Crichton-Stuart, Lord C. | Graham, Fergus (Cumberland, N.) |
| Bracken, B. | Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. |
| Braithwalte, Major A. N. | Crookshank, Cot.H.(Lindsey,Gainsbro) | Grenfell, Edward C. (City of London) |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Dalkeith, Earl of | Guinness, Rt. Hon. Walter E. |
| Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) | Dalrymple-White, Lt.-Col. Sir Godfrey | Hall, Lieut.-Col. Sir F. (Dulwich) |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen.H.C.(Berks, Newb'y) | Davies, Maj. Geo. F.(Somerset,Yeovil) | Hanbury, C. |
| Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. | Dawson, Sir Philip | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry |
| Campbell, E. T. | Dixon, Captain Rt. Hon. Herbert | Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) |
| Carver, Major W. H. | Duckworth, G. A. V. | Haslam, Henry C. |
| Castle Stewart, Earl of | Dugdale, Capt. T. L. | Hennessy, Major Sir G. R. J. |
| Cautley, Sir Henry S. | Edmondson, Major A. J. | Hope, Sir Harry (Forfar) |
| Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) | Elliot, Major Walter E. | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney,N.) |
| Iveagh, Countess of | Peaks, Capt. Osbert | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Jones, Sir G. W. H. (Stoke New'gton) | Penny, Sir George | Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East) |
| Kindersley, Major G. M. | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) | Southby, Commander A. R. J. |
| Lamb, Sir J. Q. | Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) | Stanley, Lord (Fylde) |
| Law, Sir Alfred (Derby, High Peak) | Ramsbotham, H. | Sucter Rear-Admiral M. F. |
| Leighton, Major B. E. P. | Rawson, Sir Cooper | Thomson, Sir F. |
| Lewis, Oswald (Colchester) | Reid, David D. (County Down) | Titchfield, Major the Marquess of |
| Llewellin, Major J. J. | Remer, John R. | Todd, Capt. A. J. |
| McConnell, Sir Joseph | Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell | Train, J. |
| Macquisten, F. A. | Ruggles-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A. | Wallace, Capt. D. E. (Hornsey) |
| Makins, Brigadier-General E. | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) | Ward, Lieut.-Cot. Sir A. Lambert |
| Merriman, Sir F. Boyd | Salmon, Major I. | Wardlaw-Milne, J. S. |
| Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) | Warrender, sir Victor |
| Mitchell-Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. | Sandeman, Sir N. Stewart | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. Sir B. | Savery, S. S. | Wayland, Sir William A. |
| Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) | Shepperson, Sir Ernest Whittome | Wells, Sydney R. |
| Morrison, W. S. (Glos., Cirencester) | Simms, Major-General J. | Windsor-Cilve, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Muirhead, A. J. | Sinclair, Col. T. (Queen's U., Belfst) | Withers, Sir John James |
| Nelson, Sir Frank | Skelton, A. N. | Womersley, W. J. |
| Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge) | Smith, Louis W. (Sheffield, Hallam) | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley |
| O'Connor, T. J. | Smith, R. W.(Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) | |
| O'Neill, Sir H. | Smithers, Waldron | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William | Somerset, Thomas | Captain Margesson and Captain Sir George Bowyer. |
Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.