HC Deb 16 June 1893 vol 13 cc1273-4

SECOND READING.

Order for Second Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORT (Cheshire, Macclesfield)

objected.

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MARJORIBANKS,) Berwickshire

observed that the Bill was supported by Members on the other side of the House.

MR. DAVENPORT

said, that was not enough. They should have some statement as to the object of the Bill.

MR. MARJORIBANKS

said, the object of the Bill was to place landowners in Scotland in the same position as they were in in England with regard to the planting of trees.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

said, surely the right hon. Gentleman could give them some explanation as to the details of the Bill.

* SIR J. GOLDSMID (St. Pancras, S.)

said, that a Bill of this sort might be very useful, but it certainly should be explained. The Government at present offered no explanation of any Bill except the Government of Ireland Bill.

SIR C. PEARSON (Edinburgh and St. Andrews University)

said, that although the right hon. Gentleman had stated that the Bill was supported from that (the Opposition) side of the House, he observed there was a Notice on the Paper to the effect that it be read a second time that day six months; therefore, there was at least some necessity for some explanation being given about the Bill.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EX-CHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

I do not know whether the hon. and learned Gentleman represents himself as an opponent of the Bill—

SIR C. PEARSON

Certainly not.

SIR W. HARCOURT

The hon. and learned Member for Wigton, I am informed, is the principal promoter of the Bill, which is the outcome of the deliberations of the Committee on Re-afforestry. The whole Bill is contained in one clause, which states that the— Enumeration of the improvements contained in Section 9 of the Improvement of Land Act, 1864, is hereby extended to the purpose of applications made to the Board of Agriculture after the passing of this Act, so as to include the planting of woods and trees. It appears from this that the Act only applies to England, and does not apply to Scotland, and surely no one can object to extending it to Scotland so as to facilitate the planting of woods and trees. Dr. Johnson said himself there were no trees in Scotland, and if that is so, it is very desirable that this particular Bill should be passed.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed for Monday next.