SECOND READING. (Hansard, 10 June 1884)

§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLD

said, he wished to say a word or two before this Bill was read a second time. Hon. Members who remained in the House up to the close of last Session would recollect that, in the month of August, the Prime Minister made a statement which led the House to entertain the hope that in future some alteration would be made in the mode of presenting these Bills. He begged to give Notice that on Thursday, the 19th of June, in reference to Bills of this sort, he would put the following- Question to the First Lord of the Treasury:— To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in pursuance of his statement on August 8th, 1883, that with regard to the Private Estate Bills—'We ought to look to the aid of the House of Lords, for these Bills are made the subject in the House of Lords of a regular reference to Judges. From that source we may possibly obtain some assistance which will be a guide to the House of Commons, and which, at any rate, will secure our giving due 1887 bably the attention of my noble and learned attention to these important measures. Pro-Friend the Lord Chancellor has been called to the subject, and I am sure he will be ready to consider whether anything can be done in that direction.' — Her Majesty's Government will propose, by a new Standing Order, to instruct the Chairman of Ways and Means to report to the House in the case of a Private Estate Bill containing provisions for extending the term or the area of any settlement of land? As the Bill now before the House did not propose any extension of the term or the area of settlement of land, he had no objection to offer to it; but, in regard to the remarks which had been made by the Prime Minister on the general subject, he might call attention to the fact that the Bill dealt with a new lease of the Scilly Islands, and involved the interests of more than 2,000 of Her Majesty's subjects. In consequence, however, of the manner in which it was presented to the House of Commons, it was not, in any manner, within the knowledge of hon. Members, as he was of opinion should be the case where lands belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall which were of a guasi-public character were dealt with.