JUDGMENTS, &c., LAW AMENDMENT BILL— [BILL 3.]—SECOND READING. (Hansard, 16 March 1864)

§ MR. HADFIELD
said, he rose to move the second reading of this Bill, the object of which was to put an end to one of the greatest abuses that existed in connection with the law. At present, when a purchase or transfer of land was made, the purchaser had to make search for any judgments that might exist before the purchase could be completed. No matter in what part of England he might be, he had to search every register for possible incumbrances, and to continue the search down to the very morning on which the purchase was completed. That, of course, was only done at great expense, and was a great abuse and hardship. He had communicated with the hon. and learned Attorney General on the subject, and he believed that the Government would not object to the second reading of the Bill on the understanding that it should be referred to a Select Committee. He felt justified in assenting to that proposal, and he trusted that the result of the deliberations of the Committee would be satisfactory. He might state that the proposed measure would not in any way affect Ireland.

§ MR. BAZLEY
begged to second the Motion.

§ SIR GEORGE GREY
stated, on the part of the Attorney General, that he had no objection to the Motion, so that the Bill might afterwards be referred to a Select Committee.

§ MR. SCULLY
said, he had no objection to the Bill as far as it went, though it was but a very small instalment of a much larger measure. In his opinion, a registration of titles would be the best machinery for the purpose of facilitating the sale and transfer 102 of land. He hoped there would be as few lawyers as possible on the Committee, as he considered them the obstructors of all legal reforms. When they saw that resistence would be in vain, they assisted in the carrying of such measures with the view of mutilating them as much as possible.