The purpose of this Bill is two-fold. Under the Local Government Act of 1925 certain aid was given to Tourist Development Associations of a recognised character under the auspices of the local authorities, but two points of difficulty have emerged with regard to the particular section of that Act, which gave power to local authorities to strike rates for the purpose of helping recognised associations who were going to aid tourist development. One was, they could only strike a rate as was the ordinary thing from year to year, and that rate was struck at a period which did not coincide with the period in which any tourist development association would require to have money in hands for the purpose of making plans ahead. The second was whatever rate was struck had to be expended, and then the terms of the 1925 Act seemed to give wide discretion, but as they have been interpreted the purpose has been limited to a single thing, that is advertising, as the term is commonly known, the amenities of certain districts. We propose in this Bill mainly to do two things. We give the local authorities power to enter into agreements for the striking of a rate over a period of five years, so if they like to enter into such commitments with any tourist development association which may be recognised they will have better security with regard to income than where previously a rate had to be struck, and the proceeds given from year to year. And secondly, the purposes for which these moneys may be expended are now enlarged. We have not merely advertising, but any purpose as long as it is sanctioned by a particular Minister. The schemes, of course, will all have to be approved, and will be subject to scrutiny of the auditor and all the rest as hitherto.
The main purpose is to relieve the Tourist Development Association of any offer which may come along in this way. They will be given power to expend whatever moneys may be collected from local authorities in other ways than the narrow and rigid one of advertising. The Bill is cast in a particular way. Although it does not impose a third point, it rather points towards a third thing. Previously a local authority had power to strike a rate and then advertise themselves, or jointly with some other local authority, or they might hand over the proceeds of the rate to some recognised Association. It is not imposed by this Bill, but the tendency is, for the future, the handing over the moneys so raised to a recognised Association will be the first matter; but there is not taken away from the local authority the question of expending the money themselves by way of advertising or otherwise, themselves or jointly with other authorities. But if they propose to act in the second way, then that is subject to the control of the Minister for Local Government. These are the main objects of the Bill.