§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI ask that this Bill be read a second time. Its object is the acquisition by compulsory purchase of property adjoining the present Land Registry Office, new buildings being necessary, the present building being entirely inadequate, inconvenient, and a constant source of difficulty and expense. It is proposed to acquire the property adjoining the present offices. I do not think the House wishes me to urge this point too strongly, because we always feel that when we have to acquire property compulsorily for the purposes of the nation, if we insist too much upon the necessities of the case, the price of the 1498 property goes up. The other clauses in the Bill are in exactly the same form as in all these Buildings Bills.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Akers Douglas.)
§ *MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)I thoroughly approve of the object the right hon. Gentleman has in view. I quite approve of what he says as to the inadvisability of laying too much stress upon the necessities of the case. This Bill will go before a Select Committee, and after it has been carefully considered by them there will be another opportunity of discussing it upon the Third Reading if it is thought necessary. It is premature, therefore, to make any remarks on the matter until it comes up in a more definite form.
§ Ordered, That all Petitions against the Bill five clear days before the meeting of the Committee be referred to the Committee; that the Petitioners praying to be heard by themselves, their Counsel or Agents, be heard against the Bill, and Counsel heard in support of the Bill.
§ Ordered, That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records.
§ Ordered, That three be the quorum.—(Mr. Akers Douglas.)