§ MR. H. HERBERTsaid, he wished to ask his right hon. Friend the Secretary for Ireland (Sir J. Young) a question with regard to the intentions of the Government towards proprietors in Ireland whose estates were unencumbered. Great injustice had been inflicted on this class of proprietors in consequence of the establishment of the Encumbered Estates Court. He had always considered that measure admirable and necessary; but by the creation of a particular class of securities superior to those which could be offered by persons not going through the ordeal of that Court, the value of their property which they might wish to dispose of, was materially diminished. It was now almost impossible for a landed proprietor to sell any portion of his estate without going through the Court. Under these circumstances, he wished to ask his right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it was the 1019 intention of the Government to introduce a measure to facilitate the sale of lands in Ireland which did not come under the operations of the Encumbered Estates Court?
§ SIR JOHN YOUNG,in reply, said the subject was one of extreme difficulty and of great importance; but he had the satisfaction of informing his hon. Friend that it was now under the consideration of the Government. They hoped it might be found possible to continue and extend the principle of the Encumbered Estates Act to the sale of lands not encumbered; but he was not prepared to say that in the course of the present Session Her Majesty's Government would be in a condition to introduce a Bill upon the subject. All he could say was, that it was under their consideration. In the meantime he begged to give notice that he should upon an early day move for leave to bring in a Bill to continue the Court for the Sale of Encumbered Estates in Ireland for one year.