§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ LORD CAIRNS, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, 137 its object was to settle certain doubts that had arisen whether rights secured by the Irish Land Act of 1870 to occupying tenants might not be endangered by the omission to specify or refer to such rights in conveyances or assignments executed by the Landed Estates Court. The Bill therefore enacted that every occupying tenant and those claiming under him shall have as incident to the tenancy all rights to which he might be entitled, under the first part of the Act; and that any sale, declaration, or convey on the part of the Landed Estate Courts shall be subject to all such rights, although such rights may not be specified or referred to in the conveyance or assignment executed by the Court.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Cairns.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORentirely agreed with the bringing forward of this measure by his noble and learned Friend, to whom he was much obliged for suggesting a means of obviating a not inconsiderable difficulty. Contrary to the notion that prevailed in some quarters, this Bill did not express any opinion upon the legal point that had arisen in one of the Courts in Ireland. Its object was simple, and its clauses were neatly arranged.
§ LORD CAIRNSsaid, he had avoided making any reference in the Bill to what had occurred in Ireland, as to which he had only imperfect information. Whatever had been said, it was clear there was much anxiety in the minds of persons in the northern part of Ireland, and it was proper that their doubts should be removed by legislation.
LORD LURGANthanked the noble and learned Lord for introducing the Bill, which would be approved by all who were tenants under the custom of Ulster.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.