SECOND READING. (Hansard, 12 July 1861)

§ THE EARL OF DEVON
moved that this Bill be read a second time. Its object was to promote the building of improved cottages for labourers, by giving, in certain cases, greater facilities for borrowing money to be applied to that purpose. No fact was more firmly established than that inadequate and impure cottage accommodation was the source, not of physical, but of moral degradation to the inmates. The estate, also, suffered from the imperfections of the cottages upon it, and would be benefited by their improvement. There were many cases where proprietors with large estates, through having only a limited interest or legal disability, could not procure the funds to carry out improvements. The object of the Bill was to enable persons so situated, through the intervention of the Inclosure Commissioners, to apply a limited sum of money, under certain sanctions and conditions, to the erection of cottages, and to charge the expenditure on the inheritance. That principle had been repeatedly recognized, both in public and private Bills, and Parliament had also acknowledged that the improvement of the houses of the working classes was worthy of encouragement. As no novel or startling principle was involved in the measure, and as its object was one which their Lordships must approve, he hoped they would give it their sanction.

§ LORD PORTMAN
thought that their Lordships would do well to pause before they committed themselves to such a public Bill founded on the principle that the tenant for life should be allowed to charge the inheritance of his estate with the out- 790 lay for improvements and repairs of cottages which he had made. The subject had been under the consideration of various Committees, but none of them had admitted that cottage property was of that permanently beneficial character which would entitle expenditure on that head to be charged against the heir, but had held that such wills were peculiarly the duty of the tenant for life. The Bill fixed the amount to be laid out on a cottage at not more than £120; but after deducting £20 or £50 for the expense of putting in motion the ill-considered machinery of this Bill, a sum would be left which might suffice for a Devonshire cob house, but scarcely for a substantial cottage. He believed that the machinery of the Bill as developed in the Clauses, was of so cumbrous a character as would render it practically inoperative, and many of the clauses cannot be amended in consistency with the privileges of the House of Commons. He, therefore, moved that it be read a second time that day three months.

§ THE EARL OF GALLOWAY
reminded their Lordships that the principle of the Bill had been already sanctioned by Parliament in an Act which was passed last Session in reference to Scotland. It was very desirable that the erection of good cottages should be facilitated; and he hoped the House would at least read the measure a second time. It might be modified in Committee, if necessary.

§ LORD REDESDALE
thought that what was proposed to be done by means of this Bill could already be done under several Acts of Parliament through the Inclosure Commissioners; and there were also some provisions in reference to persons possessing the fee-simple which seemed to him to be useless. Nobody was more desirous than himself that the cottages of labourers should be improved, but he thought it was hardly desirable to pass this Bill for the purpose of instituting a new way of raising money for the purpose.

VISCOUNT DUNGANNON
said, it was important in a moral point of view that cottages should be erected which would conduce to the comfort and health of the occupants, and as many persons in possession of estates could not afford, to make the necessary outlay, he thought it desirable that they should be assisted, if it could be done without detriment to the inheritance. He did not approve some of 791 the details of the Bill, but it seemed unfair not to allow it to be committed.