§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACH (Bristol, W.)Might we have an explanation of this Bill?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamIt has been before the House several months. It has been considered by a Select Committee, and has now come here unopposed. There was opposition in the early stages, but the points raised have all been agreed to. The objectionable portion of Clause 5 has been withdrawn, and hon. Members opposite who are interested in the New Forest recognise that the Bill is satisfactory.
§ MR. BARTLEYsaid, there was an Amendment on the Paper to Clause 5 which did not bear out the right hon. Gentleman's statement. The clause seemed to be contentious.
§ Slit J. T. HIBBERTNot at all. It is a clause carrying out the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1890.
§ Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to.
§ Clause 5.
§ *SIR F. S. POWELL (Wigan) moved to report Progress.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress; and ask leave to sit again."—(Sir F. S. Powell.)
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThe Amendment to this clause has been withdrawn.
§ MR. BARTLEYIt was moved, and now it is withdrawn. That is not as it should have been.
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThe Amendment was never put from the Chair.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Clauses 6 to 11 agreed to.
§ Clause 12.
MR. T. M. HEALYasked if the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury would make a statement as to this clause. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the clause is sufficient to deal with the question of the sale of reversions by the Crown under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act? A release has been made in one instance to a private proprietor, which approaches the proportions of a regretable incident.
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTsaid, this was an improvement in the present law. The proposal was to give power to the learned Judges to deal with quit-rents. It was in the interest of the purchasers of property that these facilities should be given. The clause had been fully considered.
MR. T. M. HEALYsaid, he did not raise objection, but he ventured to say that the interests of common lands in Ireland were worse looked after than in any part of the Empire, the result being that the landlords got all the benefit.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment (Queen's Consent signified); read the third time, and passed.