§ Order for Committee read.
THE SOLICITOR GENERALsaid, that the measure had been introduced in the first instance owing to the action of the Law Society in Ireland, in 1860. Last year, he might add, the Law Society had taken up the subject, with the Report of Colonel Leech before them, and had, through a Committee, made a Report, adopted by the council of the Society, to the effect that the proposals of Colonel Leech generally were satisfactory, and that certain improvements in reference to the system of registration were required. After some years of gestation the Government introduced a Bill corresponding in all points with the recommendations of the Law Society of Ireland. During the previous year that society petitioned that the measure should be referred to a Select Committee, and that Session the Bill was re-introduced. The second reading was postponed, in order that the House might have the advice and assistance of the right hon. and learned Member opposite (Mr. Whiteside) in its discussion. That right hon. and learned Gentleman in a long and able speech severely criticised the Bill, but did not end by moving its rejection. He did not then reply to the right hon. and learned Gentleman because the hour was late, and the objections taken to the measure were, moreover, such as could be better dealt with in Committee; and the second reading was agreed to. Since then, however, the Law Society of Ireland had met to reconsider the question; and although the Bill had originally been introduced at their urgent recommendation, they now turned round and said it must receive their strenuous opposition, and that no measure on that subject was necessary. One circumstance that had weighed with the Government in taking up the question was the 1572 fact that there had been a very great accumulation of arrears in the Registry Office. But, strange to say, the officers of that department, who could not in the last twenty years work off those arrears, had very lately summoned up such an extraordinary amount of energy that they had all now disappeared. Under all those circumstances, Her Majesty's Government could not hope to obtain the assistance and support which would be necessary to secure the passing of the Bill, and therefore they did not think it expedient to proceed any further with it. He begged to move that the Order for going into Committee upon it be discharged.
§ MR. WHITESIDEsaid, he congratulated the Government upon the discretion they showed in withdrawing the measure, the details of which, as they stood, were so impracticable and full of inconsistencies that they never could have been approved by those who knew anything of the local affairs of Ireland. The Committee of the Law Society of Ireland had given their sanction to it, but the general body of solicitors had since met and overruled the opinion of that smaller body. His hon. and learned Friend had given excellent reasons for not proceeding with the Bill; and if he had only exhibited similar energy in supporting it when it was last under discussion, he might possibly have succeeded in carrying it. The press of business thrown on the Registry Office by the Incumbered Estates Court having lately slackened, the officers had been enabled to clear off the arrears which had been referred to.
§ MR. BUTTsaid, some of the clauses in the Bill he should have opposed, while others, if passed, would have effected great improvements in the law. It was absolutely necessary that legislation in regard to some points connected with the registration of assurances should take place during the Session, in order that certain questions should be settled. He regretted that the Bill should be withdrawn.
§ COLONEL FRENCHsaid, he must protest against measures seriously affecting the landowners of Ireland being proposed and withdrawn at the instigation of a body of solicitors.
§ MR. HASSARDsaid, he believed the Bill had fallen through because there was no information before the House upon which legislation could be based. He trusted, however, the subject would not be dropped altogether by the Government.
§ Order discharged:—Bill withdrawn.