HC Deb 02 December 1919 vol 122 cc314-5

Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (c) of Sub-section (3) of Section twenty-six of the Act of 1911, or in the reference to that paragraph in Sub-section (4) of the said Section, a person may be held, as from and after the commencement of this Act., as existing yearly tenant or a qualified leaseholder, and shall be admissible to registration as a new holder under the Act of 1911 in respect of land within the parliamentary, police, or municipal boundary of any burgh or pore burgh situate in the counties of Argyll, Inverness, floss and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney and Shetland.—[Sir D. Maclean.]

Brought up, and read the first time.

Sir D. MACLEAN

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

I propose not to take up the time of the House, because I understand my right hon. Friend proposes, substantially, to accept the Amendment.

Mr. CLYDE

Perhaps I ought to say a single word to the House—which I have said privately to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh—as to the acceptance of this Amendment substantially. I was not quite sure, however, about the precise phraseology, and I should like to say, in respect to tine word "may" ["a person may be held"], that it will not be possible to leave the question as to whether or not these people are to come in optional. I rather think it must be settled one way or the other. I had in my mind that some change of phraseology might be involved, and it may be beyond that word "may" I cannot guarantee against that. Subject to what I have said, and on tire understanding that we may be free to make some other proposal elsewhere, I accept the Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause accordingly read a second time, and added to the Bill.