What purpose does this code change serve?
<p>I am trying to understand the <strong>implications</strong> / <strong>side effects</strong> / <strong>advantages</strong> of a recent code change someone made. The change is as follows:</p>

<p><strong>Original</strong></p>

<pre><code>static List&lt;type1&gt; Data;
</code></pre>

<p><strong>Modified</strong></p>

<pre><code>static List&lt;type1&gt; &amp; getData (void)
{
    static List&lt;type1&gt; * iList = new List&lt;type1&gt;;
    return * iList;
}
#define Data getData()
</code></pre>

<p>What purpose could the change serve?</p>
