§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Prime Minister whether, in order to put a premium upon the sale by a tenant for life of portions of a largo settled estate and so encourage the creation of small freeholds, he will consider the advisability of an. amendment of the Settled Land Acts on the lines of the Danish Land Law of 21st June, 1854, whereby the limited owner of certain classes of settled land is permitted on its sale, and notwithstanding the terms of the settlement, to retain from 8 to 12 per cent. of the proceeds of sale and apply the same for his own purposes?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Rufus Isaacs)This proposal would involve drastic interference with existing settlements enabling the tenant for life, who is a trustee for all parties entitled under the settlement, to retain for his own purposes 8 to 12 per cent. of the proceeds of sale. A proposal which certainly would not be welcomed by remaindermen or by incumbrancers. The suggestion does not commend itself to the Government.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider alternatively some method of modifying the existing Settled Lands Acts, so as to restrict the undue entailment under exist-conditions of agricultural land?
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSYes, Sir.