Mr. T. Morrisasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the gradual decline in the number of allotments in this country; and whether he will consider circularising local authorities with a view to the acquisition of additional land for this purpose?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI am aware that there has been a gradual decline in the number of allotments in this country, due mainly to the demand for land for other purposes, particularly for housing in urban areas. The most effective remedy220W would be the acquisition of more land for permanent allotments by the local authorities concerned. A circular letter was accordingly issued to all urban allotment authorities in 1935 urging them to purchase additional land for this purpose, and there has since been an appreciable increase in the rate of acquisition.
The Government's views on the subject are well known to local authorities, and every opportunity is taken both in communications addressed to the authorities and by the Ministry's local officers in the course of their duties, to impress on them the importance which is attached to the provision of an adequate number of permanent allotments. This policy will continue to be pursued, but I do not think that the issue of a further circular letter at the present time would serve any useful purpose.