HC Deb 18 December 1916 vol 88 cc1235-6

In case the Government shall not pay in its ex gratia Grant to any owner of premises damaged or destroyed all the consequential damages and losses incurred by payment of head rents and other charges during the period of the rebuilding of the said premises, such head rents and other charges shall be borne proportionately to their respective interests by the respective parties interested in the said head rents and suffering the losses aforesaid.—[Mr. Clancy.]

Clause brought up, and read the first time.

Mr. CLANCY

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."

I do not think I need labour the point of this Amendment. I do not think it is quite fair that one set alone of those concerned should bear all the loss.

Mr. BRADY

I beg to second the Motion.

Mr. HEALY

This is a very anxious matter, and one which many people have considered. I have always understood that assessors are they who endeavour to do some form of rough justice as between the various interests involved. I have known as many as five interests concerned in a single house. It may be that the head landlord would be the person legally to be called upon to rebuild the premises. At the same time, it is almost impossible to express in legal language the whole of the cases which will arise. If the Government think that this Amendment meets the whole case, I am quite satisfied, because, of course, they have had expert opinion and the advantage of consultation with the local assessors. I understand that the local assessors are going into this matter with a nicety which cannot, perhaps, be expressed in drafting language. But if the Government assure us from that point of view that these interests are all being carefully considered, I shall feel a little less anxious as to the acceptance of an Amendment of this kind.

Mr. DUKE

This Amendment is unfortunate in that it deals with the interests of bodies who have never been heard. Having regard to that fact, the Government cannot accept it. If the consents of the various persons who would be affected by this Amendment had been presented to the Government the case would have been on a totally different footing. No such consents have been produced. On the other hand, it is within my knowledge that there are persons affected by this Amendment who would not dream of consenting to it.

Question put, and negatived.