HC Deb 16 July 1906 vol 160 cc1445-6

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

[Mr. EMMOTT (Oldham) in the chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, " That it is expedient that no proceedings shall be taken by or on behalf of the Crown for enforcing the payment of any quit rent or any other perpetual rent payable to the Crown in Ireland, or any arrears thereof, but within sixty years from the time when such rent was last received by or on behalf of the Crown, and that after such period the right of the Crown to the rent and arrears shall be extinguished in pursuance of any Act of the present session to amend the Crown Lands Acts, 1829 to 1894.—(Mr. McKenna).

MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

asked what was the sum of money involved in the Resolution put from the Chair.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.

said it was impossible to say what sum was involved because they did not know what number of cases would come before the Estates Commissioners. The Treasury would under no circumstances claim quit rents for a period beyond sixty years. This clause was introduced at the request of hon. Members opposite.

MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD (Liverpool, West Derby)

asked whether the clause was to apply to the future or the past.

MR. MCKENNA

said it applied to the future. If the money on a sale of an Irish estate fell into the hands of the Estates Commissioners it was held to be doubtful whether they should pay the money over to the landlord or to the State. In order to facilitate the Lands Purchase Act this clause had been inserted.

MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD

asked whether he was to understand that the Motion before the Committee was that quit rent in arrears for sixty years should be dropped.

MR. MCKENNA

said the quit rents would be collected up to sixty years; those beyond would not be collected. That was the law in England at the present moment, and was believed to be the law in Ireland until a recent judicial decision.

MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)

asked whether it was a fact that the quit rents collected in Ireland were spent in beautifying London parks.

THE CHAIRMAN

said that question did not arise on this Motion.

Resolution to be reported to-morrow.