§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has made further inquiries into the unsatisfied demand for allotments at Newlyn, Cornwall, and the result of his inquiries?
Sir A. BOSCAWENYes, further inquiries have now been made. It appears that the acquisition of suitable land for allotments in this district is rendered difficult by the fact that land is in the hands of small men, while the attitude taken up by the local allotment association in demanding unsuitable land has increased the difficulty of making a satisfactory choice from the land available. The Paul Urban District Council, who were asked by the county council to take the necessary steps to acquire land selected by the association, considered the demands of the association unreasonable and referred the question to the council in January last. The matter has now been fully considered by the small holdings and allotments sub-committee of the agricultural committee of the county council, and the sub-committee reported on 27th April that they agreed with the opinion of the urban district council that the land selected by the association is unsuitable. It was considered that the applicants would soon give it up. This would mean that the land, which could only be acquired compulsorily for a minimum period of 14 years, would be thrown on the hands of the urban district council, and as the association had refused to make itself responsible for the rent of the land during the period for which it could be hired compulsorily, the loss incurred would presumably fall on the rates, which are very high at present. In the circumstances, the subcommittee were not prepared to recommend the compulsory acquisition of the land. The agricultural committee adopted the report. In view of the foregoing considerations, it does not appear that the Ministry can press the county 333W council to take any further action as regards this land, especially as it is understood that the holding of which it forms part has now been handed over by the owner to his two ex-service sons, who occupy the holding, which comprises 30 acres only. The county land agent and one of the Ministry's sub-commissioners have been endeavouring to find suitable land in the district, but there appears to be very little possibility of any being acquired unless the local association and the applicants are prepared to take land which they have hitherto refused.