HC Deb 30 March 1865 vol 178 cc540-1

Order for Second Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. T. G. Baring.)

MR. LOCKE

asked the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary of the Home Department, to omit from the schedule "Epsom Common" and "Epsom Common fields," which were only about seventeen or eighteen miles from London, and therefore within the area to which the inquiry of the Committee now sitting extended.

MR. T. G. BARING

said, that these two cases had been specially reported upon, and the Report was in the hands of Members. Epsom Common fields were cultivated land, belonging to twenty-eight persons, over which the public had no rights, and he therefore could not consent to omit them from the Bill. The other case referred to—that of Epsom Common—was one of the inclosure of a real common, and as some part of it was within fifteen miles of London he would consent to postpone its consideration.

MR. COX

said, that unless the public had some right over these fields he could not understand why their owners should have thought it necessary to apply to the Inclosure Commissioners at all. He believed that the public had some rights over them, and therefore he thought that neither of these inclosures ought to be sanctioned until the Committee now sitting had made its Report. In order that the hon. Gentleman might have an opportunity of again addressing the House, he moved that the Bill should be read a second time that day week.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day week."—(Mr. Cox.)

Question proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

MR. T. G. BARING

said, that this was a question which affected private property, and he could not consent to omit these fields from the Bill.

MR. KINNAIRD

said, he was sorry that the hon. Gentleman would not accede to the reasonable proposal which had been made to him. There wanted some reform in this matter of inclosures. Inclosure Bills were intended to be a protection for the public; but instead of that they had been made the means by which open spaces had been withdrawn from the enjoyment of the public.

MR. BRADY

hoped that the hon. Gentleman would accept the suggestion of the hon. Member for Finsbury.

MR. BONHAM-CARTER

said, that as to the Epsom Common fields there were no public rights whatever, and this Bill could not harm the public.

SIR JOHN SHELLEY

pointed out that there was a great distinction between commons and common fields.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read 2°, and committed for Tomorrow