§ MR. MARUMasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the expression "copyhold land," in Clause 68 of the Land Improvement and Arterial Drainage (Ireland) Bill, 1883, is intended to apply to and include land subject to statutory terms; and, if not, whether he will provide that such statutory land tenures in Ireland of a quasi perpetual character, subject to fair rental conditions, may be brought within the meaning of such definition Clause?
§ MR. COURTNEYMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this Question. If I understand the hon. Member aright, he desires to know whether occupiers at judicial rents can be brought within the definition of owner for the purposes of the formation of a drainage district and a Drainage Board. This is a very important question, and was carefully considered when the Bill was in preparation; but I came to the conclusion, having regard to the fact that the Bill is mainly a Consolidation Bill, that it would be impossible to introduce this new proposal in it without making hopeless what is already sufficiently precarious—the chance of passing the Bill. I may point out that such tenants can, under Section 31 of the Land Act, obtain loans for the draining and improving of their separate holdings.
§ MR. MARUMasked what was meant by the expression "copyhold land?" He was not aware that there was any such land in Ireland.
§ MR. COURTNEYsaid, the expression intended to apply to copyhold land. If none existed in Ireland, it would not apply.