§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If the Government will take into consideration the urgent necessity for the introduction of a measure to extend the Purchase Clauses of the Land Act, and to make effectual provision for facilitating the transfer of the ownership of the land to tenants, who are occupiers, on terms which would be just and reasonable to the existing landlords?
MR. GLADSTONEI am afraid, Sir, I cannot answer this Question in an adequate manner within the limits which ought to be observed in a reply. I am not quite certain whether I understand its exact gist. There are two points of view from which the Purchase Clauses of the Land Act may be looked at. One is the enactment of the clauses in themselves, and the other is the financial arrangements which have been made in order to insure that there would be no financial bar to their operation. As regards the first Question, I am of opinion that we have as yet no experience at all to enable us to judge of the adequacy of the clauses, or to pronounce an opinion upon the question whether they can in any respect, or ought in any respect, to be amended. As regards the financial question, however, the House will doubtless recollect that the arrangement which was made under the Act of last year was avowedly a limited and a provisional arrangement; and the whole of that part of the subject will require careful consideration, which we are now engaged in giving it, and which undoubtedly will be made the subject of provision during the present year.