COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 13 August 1894)

* MR. J. W. LOWTHER () Cumberland, Penrith
said, he had an Amendment to propose which would not involve any alteration of the law, but would bring the Bill into conformity with the existing law. The clause provided that where any money in the case of settled estates was paid in respect of enfranchisements to Trustees 883 then the Trustees should apply this, subject to the consent of the Board of Agriculture, in a certain way. Under the Act of 1871 such money could be expended on permanent improvements without instruction, and the object of his Amendment was to bring the money paid to Trustees from enfranchisements of copyholds into the same position as money paid under the Settled Land Act to Trustees. Therefore, he moved, in line 5, the omission of the words "subject to the consent of the Board of Agriculture," and the words down to line 20, in order to insert the words in the same manner as though such were capital money arising under the Settled Land Act. This would involve no alteration of the law, but though he formally moved the Amendment he would not press it against the opinion of the Attorney General if he were to say that it involved an alteration of the law. He was advised on good authority that it would be simply consolidating a provision from the Settled Land Act under the terms of the Bill.

§ * SIR J. RIGBY
said, so far as he could follow the proposal he was inclined to agree with the hon. Member that to accept the Amendment would not involve an alteration of the law, but it was a somewhat complicated matter, and he desired to consider it, and the Amendment could be inserted on Report if it should be found, as ho thought it would lie found, in accordance with the statement that no change in the law would be effected thereby.

* MR. J. W. LOWTHER
said, as there had been an Amendment and therefore must be a Report to consider, he would not press the Amendment at this stage.

§ * MR. TOMLINSON
said, ho desired to insert a formal Amendment in line 38, by inserting the words— and any person entitled to interest for any term of years originally granted for 99 years and upwards. The word "tenant" in this Bill covered the definition of his words in the existing Copyhold Act, but the word "owner" was applied in certain cases as distinct from tenant. It was intended by this consolidation to make the expression apply generally.

§ Sir J. RIGBY
undertook to consider this point also on Report.

* MR. TOMLLNSON
suggested that on Report it should be considered whether lines 9 and 10 should lie omitted, because in a Bill intended to apply to Copyhold Acts only it was not desirable to deal with a section of the Universities Estates Act of 1860 merely because that section related to copyholds.

§ * SIR J. RIGBY
thought, in consolidating Acts relating to copyholds, it was desirable everything of that character should be included, but he would, however, consider it.