SECOND READING. (Hansard, 17 June 1858)

§ SIR RICHARD BETHELL
said, he 2286 would not delay the Second Reading of the Bill at that hour further than to observe upon two circumstances—one, that in the other House of Legislature the Bill had received the support of Her Majesty's Government: and the other, that the principle of the Bill had been so much discussed and so generally approved in the Bill brought in by the learned Attorney General for Ireland, that it was only necessary to apply the same principle to the present measure. He should suggest, therefore, that the Bill be read a second time pro formâ, on the understanding that it be left to go into Committee after the committal of the Transfer of Lands Bill in Ireland.

§ MR. WALPOLE
said, he should be unwilling to discourage any attempt to facilitate the transfer of land, and still more unwilling to discourage any attempt to accomplish that object by a measure which would give what was termed a "Parliamentary title." But this Bill, as it had come down from the other House, was in two respects materially different from the recommendations which the recent Commission on the registration of titles submitted to Her Majesty. In the first place, it gave the Court of Chancery jurisdiction in questions relating to the transfer of land; and, in the second place, it did not deal at all with mortgages, leases, or encumbrances. Now, he knew his hon. and learned Friend was strongly of opinion that the object contemplated by the Bill was too limited in its scope, and that the Court of Chancery was not the tribunal by which questions affecting the transfer of land ought to be determined. Still, there could be no harm in reading the Bill a second time pro formâ, provided the hon. and learned Gentleman had no objection to refer it to a Select Committee, who might be able, upon a consideration of the whole subject, to suggest a more comprehensive measure.

§ SIR RICHARD BETHELL
intimated that he would consent to the Bill being referred to a Select Committee.