§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Knowles.)
§ (12.4.) MR. M. J. KENNY (Tyrone, Mid)This is rather a technical Bill; may I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should give us some explanation of it?
§ (12.4.) MR.KNOWLES (Salford,W.)A memorandum on the back of the Bill sets out in concise and clear terms the object of the Bill, and I do not know that I can give an explanation in a better form, and so I will read the memorandum as follows:—
Assurances by deed of land for the purposes of a public park, a schoolhouse, an elementary school, or a public museum, or for the purpose of providing dwellings for the working classes in any populous place, are already exempted from the operation of Parts I. and II. of the Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act, 1888. It is proposed by this Bill to extend that exemption to all assurances by deed of land to Local Authorities for any purpose for which such authorities are authorised to acquire land. The restrictions on the assurances of land which it is proposed to remove occasionally create very great local inconvenience. For instance, if a landowner wishes to grant a plot of land, however small, to a local authority for any public purpose, other than one of those specially exempted from the operation of Parts I. and II. of the above-mentioned Act, without full and valuable consideration,' the deed must within six months of its execution be enrolled in the central office of the Supreme Court of Judicature, and if the grantor dies within twelve months of the execution of the deed, the grant is void.I may add that I noticed in yesterday's papers the case of a grant of land to which the Bill would apply. Supposing the grantor should die within 12 months, then the grant would be void.
§ (12.6.) MR. CHANCE (Kilkenny, S.)Are we to assume from the silence of the Government that they approve of the Bill?
§ (12.6.) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER, Isle of Wight)The principle is one which I think may be conceded, but I do not pledge myself to the details.
§ (12.6.) MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Will the hon. Gentleman 1330 say is it the same Bill which was read a second time last year? Does it apply to Ireland?
§ (12.6.) MR. KNOWLESThe same Bill, and it does not apply to Ireland.
§ (12.6.) MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.): Does it apply to Scotland.
§ MR. KNOWLES: No.
§ Objection being taken to further proceeding, Debate adjourned till tomorrow.