HC Deb 28 July 1877 vol 236 c132

(Mr. Attorney General.)

COMMITTEE.

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. PARNELL

said, that as no explanation of the Bill had been given he would oppose it on the Preamble.

THE CHAIRMAN

There is no Preamble.

MR. PARNELL

Then I will move that you report Progress.

Motion made, and Question proposed) "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Parnell.)

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

There is only one clause, and as it has been on the Table the greater part of the Session I thought hon. Members would know what it was. However, as the hon. Gentleman wishes it, I will explain it to him. At present the law relating to contingent remainders is this—that they depend on the previous estates in possession, and if that previous estate is determined before they are ready to vest, the contingent remainders are destroyed altogether. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman does not follow me. Let me put it in another way. If real property is settled either by deed or by will in A for life, with remainder over to B's children, and A happens to die before B has any children, the estate of these children fails altogether. The object of the present Bill is to preserve their estate.

MR. BIGGAR

presumed that his hon. Friend would now withdraw his Motion to report Progress. His hon. Friend was right in making it; but the explanation just given by the Attorney General showed that it was desirable to have an explanation of the object of all legal measures.

MR. PARNELL (without rising from his seat)

I beg to withdraw my Motion.

THE CHAIRMAN

It is usual for hon. Members to rise to address the Committee.

MR. PARNELL (rising)

I apologize to the Committee; but I thought that, having spoken once, I had no right to address the Committee again.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time upon Monday next.