464 Official Circulars and Notices. [sept., 



Allotments. 



Definition and Method of Application. — An allotment may be of any size up to 

 5 acres. 



Applicants in rural parishes should write to the Clerk of the Parish Council, or to 

 the Chairman of the Parish Meeting if there is no Parish Council, and applicants in 

 urban districts should write to the Clerk of the Urban District Council or the Town 

 Clerk as the case may be. They should state the amount of land required and whether 

 arable cr grass, and if any particular piece of land is desired it should be mentioned. 



It does not follow that the Council will be able to obtain this particular land, but 

 the information furnished will be of use to the Council by enabling them to meet the 

 wishes of applicants as far as possible. 



Where rules have been made by a Council as to the manner in which applications 

 are to be made, the rules should be carefully observed. 



Tenure. — Allotments cannot be sold to applicants but may only be let. No allot- 

 ment may be sublet. Allotment tenants are entitled, on quitting their allotments, to 

 compensation for unexhausted improvements under the Agricultural Holdings Acts, or 

 under the Allotments and Cottage Gardens Compensation Act, 1887. 



Powers and Duties of Local Authorities. — Allotment authorities can let land only 

 to members of the labouring population resident in their parish, district, or borough. 

 Women as well as men are eligible as tenants of allotments. The term " labouring 

 population " may be taken to include all those persons whose main occupation involves 

 manual labour and would embrace most persons to whom an allotment would be 

 useful. But, if an applicant does not belong to the labouring population and requires 

 land of more than 1 acre in extent, he can apply to the County Council for the land 

 under the Small Holdings Acts. Allotment authorities can provide allotments up to 

 5 acres in size, but they are not obliged to provide allotments of more than 1 acre. 

 If an applicant desires more than 1 acre and the allotment authority declines to take 

 action, he should apply to the County Council for a small holding under the Small 

 Holdings Acts. 



If a Parish Council or Parish Meeting, or a District Council (not being a Borough 

 Council) fail to carry out their obligation to satisfy the demand for allotments in their 

 district, the County Council are empowered to provide allotments up to I acre at the 

 expense of the defaulting authority, and the Council can deal with applications for 

 over an acre under the Small Holdings Acts. If the County Council fail to act, the 

 matter may be referred to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



Acquisition of Land by Local Authorities. — A local authority can purchase or hire 

 land for allotments either within or outside the parish, district, or borough, and can 

 adapt such land for the purpose. They are also empowered to erect a dwelling house 

 for occupation with any allotment of 1 acre and upwards. If a Borough or District 

 Council cannot acquire land voluntarily, they can purchase or rent land compulsorily 

 subject to certain restrictions, one of which is that no part of any holding of 50 acres 

 or less can be compulsorily acquired. The purchase money or rent in such circum- 

 stances will be fixed by an independent arbitrator or valuer. In the case of a Parish 

 Council or Parish Meeting being unable to obtain land for allotments by agreement 

 with the landowners, the Council or meeting can represent the case to the County 

 Council, who may thereupon proceed to acquire land compulsorily on behalf of the 

 Parish Council or Parish Meeting. 



Rent. — The rents to be charged to allotment holders will be fixed at sums 

 sufficient to cover the expenses incurred in providing the allotment, such as the 

 purchase money or rent paid by the local authority for the land, the cost of adapta- 

 tion, &c, and the expenses of management. If a house is erected on the allotment 

 additional rent will be charged to cover the cost. A Council is entitled to require the 

 payment of one quarter's rent in advance. 



