HC Deb 30 July 1857 vol 147 cc775-6

Order for Committee read.

House in Committee.

Clauses 17 to 19 inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 20 (Enfranchisement of Church leaseholds.)

MR. HENLEY

remarked, that he thought it was very objectionable to discuss a clause of that importance at a quarter to one o'clock in the morning, and after the House had been sitting with a slight interruption for thirteen hours. He would move, therefore, that the Chairman should report progress.

MR. INGHAM

said, he should oppose the Motion. The clause merely established by statute that course which had been voluntarily adopted in all recent negotiations. The clause which was purely permissive, had received the assent of all parties interested.

MR. HENLEY

observed, that he had been told that the three last lines of the clause would prevent the conversion of leases for lives held under chapters into leases for years, unless it was done in a very short period.

SIR GEORGE GREY

said, that the clause merely gave legislative sanction to what was now done. It was founded on the Report of the Committee of last year, when the interests of the Church were very well taken care of.

MR. SPOONER

said, that he must deny that all the lessees assented to the clause.

Motion withdrawn: Clause agreed to, as were also Clauses 21 and 22.

Clause 23.

SIR FITZROY KELLY

regretted that a measure of such vast importance should be brought on at that hour in the morning, when it was impossible for any one to secure the attention of the Committee.

SIR GEORGE GREY

suggested that notice should be given of any Amendments intended by the hon. and learned Gentleman.

MR. AYRTON

entered his protest against protracting the sitting for the consideration of this Bill.

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY moved that the Chairman report progress.

MR. HENLEY

supported the Motion for reporting progress.

House resumed. Committee report progress. To sit again To-morrow at Twelve o'clock.