THIRD READING. (Hansard, 16 August 1883)

§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLD

said, he did not propose to ask the House to take any further action against this Bill. He had protested, and he now renewed his protest, against the scandal—for it was a scandal—that in these days power should be given by the House of Commons to place free land in settlement for a term of 1,000 years. He had, however, been encouraged by the Prime Minister to hope that this would be the last Bill presented to the House of Commons for extending the 708 area of settled land which would be pressed in this way, without information or report, upon the House. He was glad to have reason to believe that not only would the Lord Chancellor be prepared to co-operate in order to relieve the House from these questionable transactions, but also that Lord Cairns would not be indisposed to lend his high influence and authority in the same direction and for the same object. For these reasons, although he could not but regard the Bill as a measure opposed to public policy, which, if it were duly informed, the House would refuse to pass, he also regarded it as a small hinge on which the great gates of reform had been made to move with a sound of opening. He would take an early opportunity of inquiring by what means these great authorities proposed to attain this object, and what recommendations they were prepared to make in reference to Bills of this nature being presented to this House. He thought he gathered from the Prime Minister that he was of opinion the case might be met by the passing of a new Standing Order directing the Chairman of Ways and Means, with the assistance of the Counsel to the Speaker, to report to the House in future Sessions in the case of Private Estate Bills containing such provisions whether they included any proposal of which the House ought to be informed, and in regard to which there ought to be an inquiry. Under existing circumstances, when any Private Estate Bills of this character contained any provisions relative to the inclosure of land, the Chairman of Ways and Means was required to make a Report to the House. He thought there would be no difficulty, but, on the contrary, great advantage, if the Chairman of Ways and Means were required to make a Report to the House upon any provisions relating to the settlement of land. At all events, until some such change was made, he should feel it his duty to oppose the reading of any Private Estate Bill containing provisions for extending the area of settled land; and he would leave to those who supported it the responsibility of accepting a measure contrary to public policy.