HL Deb 25 July 1870 vol 203 cc819-21

Commons amendment to Lords amendments and Commons reasons for disagreeing to one of the amendments made by the Lords to the amendments made by the Commons to the amendments made by the Lords considered (according to order).

EARL GRANVILLE

asked their Lordships to agree to the Amendments made by the Commons in the Amendments of the Lords. The Commons had agreed to the omission of the words empowering the Court to consider "special causes" why an ejectment for the non-payment of rent should be deemed a disturbance entitled to compensation, with this reservation, that the Court might, in the case of holdings valued under £15, inquire whether the rent had been exorbitant. This question had gone to and fro from one House to the other, and on a former occasion he made an offer which did not meet with a sufficiently encouraging reception to induce him to press it to a Division. He hoped, however, their Lordships would agree to the clause in its present form. He had also to ask them not to insist, in the clause requiring the Court to state the "particulars and character" of the tenant's loss, for which compensation was awarded, on the words "particulars and" which the Commons had struck out. He moved that the Commons Amendments be agreed to.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

said, he was prepared to assent to the Amendments made; but asked that the matter might be postponed for a short time, in order that it might be considered whether the exact words now before the House would meet the object in view, or whether a verbal Amendment might not be necessary.

Question postponed.

Afterwards—

Debate resumed.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, he should have preferred the word "value" as it stood in the Commons' Amendment; but, as the noble Duke (the Duke of Richmond) preferred the word "rent," he did not think that when a settlement had been so nearly arrived at it would be right to insist upon so small a point. He would, therefore, not oppose the Amendment proposed by the noble Duke, and the Commons' Amendment would, therefore, run as follows:— Or if, in case of any such tenancy of a holding held at an annual rent not exceeding £15, the Court shall certify that the non-payment of rent causing the eviction has arisen from the rent being an exorbitant rent.

Other Amendments agreed to.

Their Lordships' Amendment in Clause D to which the Commons disagree insisted on; and a Committee appointed to prepare reasons to be offered to the Commons for the Lords insisting on the said Amendment.