CAB37-17 — Page 177

Page 177

Page 177

Page 177

5

immensely in different localities. But it would be probably safe to say that in many districts the benefits of the allotment system have been thoroughly realised and appreciated, and that the importance and extension of the system is worthy of the attention of the Legislature.

consideration.

If this be granted, two questions have to be considered: (1) In what Questions for respects do the existing statutes require amendment? (2) In what direction is any fresh legislation required?

In order to answer the first question fully and satisfactorily, some preliminary inquiry by a Select Committee or otherwise into the details of the working of the Acts would probably be necessary. But it can scarcely be doubted that the consolidation in a simpler form of the enactments now scattered through several statutes, would be advantageous both as regards the general public and those charged with the management of allotments. Laws which affect the poor ought above all others to be plain, intelligible, and accessible; though it is no doubt easier to pass an amending Bill through the House of Commons, destined too often to obscure rather than to clear up the law, than to carry a consolidating measure. It will probably be found in practice that, in the case of the statutes under consideration, fresh legislation must precede any attempt at consolidation.

tion.

With respect to fresh legislation as distinguished from consolidation of Fresh legiala- existing legislation, it can be required only in the case of one class of parishes-those where there are no allotments or insufficient allotments, but there are people desirous of allotments, and land available for the purpose. Other parishes which are already sufficiently supplied with allotments, or with gardens, or where there is no demand for allotments, as may be the case in some fishing and in some mining or manufacturing villages; or where there is absolutely no land available for allotments, may for the present purpose be dismissed from consideration.

In the case of the parishes where there is an unsatisfied demand for allotments, and land available for the purpose, the time for doing something to satisfy the demand (assuming it to exist to any considerable extent) has probably arrived. It is a demand which, if attention were drawn to it by the passing of an Act of Parliament, would doubtless be met to a great extent by further voluntary action on the part of landowners. At the same time, no legislation could be really effective unless it embodied a power of acquiring land compulsorily, to be exercised by some authority only in the event of failure to provide the necessary land by voluntary arrangements.

disability

land.

If there is any large number of parishes with available land, but without Persons under allotments, it is not unreasonable to suppose that in some of them, laud- should be owners, and others would come forward with offers of land at a moderate price to part with

empowered or even gratuitously, especially if they saw their way to avoiding an addition to the rates. It would therefore appear desirable that all persons under disability who are empowered to sell and convey land under the Lands Clauses Acts should be enabled to part with land for the purpose of allotments without the necessity of application to any Court. Further, it would be of great

(1536)

B

i

Page 177

Page 177