HL Deb 01 July 1915 vol 19 cc180-2

Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Hylton.)

On Question, Bill read 3a

Clause 1:

Postponement of Milk and Dairies Acts.

1. The Milk and Dairies Act, 1914 and the Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Act, 1914, shall, notwithstanding anything in those Acts, not come into operation until such date, not being later than the expiration of One year after the termination of the present war, as the Local Government Board and the Local Government Board for Scotland May respectively by order appoint.

Loan STRACHIE

I have an Amendment to Clause II of this Bill, after the worts "Local Government Board" where they first appear, to insert "with the concurrence of the Board of Agriculture." I had hoped that my noble friend in charge of the Bill would have accented this reasonable Amendment yesterday. The reason I think it is reasonable is that for all practical purposes action taken under the Act of 1914 is by Order, and the Board of Agriculture has to concur with the Local Government Board before the Orders can be made. The Board of Agriculture has an absolute veto upon the Orders, and in these circumstances it appeared to me extraordinary yesterday that the noble Lord was not ready to accept my Amendment and asked for further time for consideration. I naturally agreed to that course and have put the Amendment on the Paper for to-day. It seems to me that the advantages are obvious, and that there are no disadvantages at all in associating the Board of Agriculture with the Local Government Board in this matter. Agriculturists have confidence in the Board of Agriculture and would be much more satisfied, I am certain, if they knew that the Act of 1914 would not be put into operation at a particular time unless the Board of Agriculture concurred. I would remind my noble friend that before the Act of last year is put into operation it will be necessary to re-enact the Tuberculous Animals Act. The Board of Agriculture has suspended the Tuberculous Animals Order, and it is anticipated that it will not he brought into operation again for a considerable time, certainly not until after the termination of the war.

Amendment moved— Clause 1, page 1, line 9, after ("Board") insert "with the concurrence of the Board of Agriculture").—(Lord Strachie.)

LORD HYLTON

I regret that it is impossible for me to accept my noble friend's Amendment. This Bill is merely a Postponement Bill—it postpones the coming into operation of the Milk and Dairies Act, 1914—and I am informed that it is contrary to precedent to insert an Amendment in such a measure interfering with the structure of the Bill.

Loup STRACHIE

After what the noble Lord has said, I withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Bill passed.