MR. H.VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland if the purchasers of land under the Land Purchase Bill will be granted a clean title from the Crown, all previous documents being withdrawn; and if the holdings will be subsequently transferable by a system of registration similar to that in force in Australia under the Torrens Act?
§ *MR. MADDENThe effect of the provisions in the Land Purchase Bill as to the operation of the vesting order, and in regard to the redemption of head rents, is to place the purchasing tenant in the same position, substantially if not technically, as if he held under grant from the Crown. I have long been of opinion that a system of registration such as that indicated in the second paragraph of the question is a necessary adjunct to any general system of peasant proprietorship, and I have devoted a, good deal of time to the preparation of a Bill providing for Ireland a, cheap and readily accessible system of local registration of titles. I introduced this Bill late last Session, with a view to having its provisions discussed and criticised by those who are interested in the subject, and I am now engaged in embodying in the Bill of last Session some valuable suggestions which I have received. I shall be able to re-introduce the Bill in a few days; and I hope that I shall have the assistance of hon. Members on both sides of the House in carrying out what I regard as a, practical reform of considerable importance.