(NOS. 185, 193.) THIRD READING. (Hansard, 20 June 1871)

§ LORD GREVILLE
said, the object of the measure was to resolve some doubts in regard to the Landlord and Tenant Act, which had been raised by a recent judgment of a Lord Justice of Appeal, and had been hastily introduced and pressed through its stages with great rapidity. But as there was an important point affecting the conveyance of property in regard to the Ulster custom, on which it was desirable to take legal opinion, he hoped the noble and learned Lord who had charge of the Bill (Lord Cairns) would postpone the third reading for a day or two.

§ LORD CAIRNS
said, that under the circumstances stated he would not object to postpone the third reading.

LORD ORANMORE AND BROWNE
confessed to a feeling of anxiety from the course adopted with reference to this Bill. The Judges appointed to carry out the provisions of the Irish Land Act were not, as was the case with the other Judges, paid fixed salaries. Beyond question the Judges of this Court would carry out the law with the same independence as the other Judges of the land; yet as this state of things was calculated to create an impression in the public mind that they would lean to the wishes of the Government rather more than to the dictates of strict justice, he 299 maintained that it ought to be corrected. The Bill, moreover, would leave the purchaser in doubt, and would place him in a worse position than the present owner. With regard to the power of advancing money to tenants to purchase their farms, he was of opinion that, instead of the power given under the 40th clause of the Laud Act, it would be better to advance to tenants nine-tenths of the amounts necessary, and to limit the purchase to be given to 19 years. By this means the tenant would pay as interest the same amount he now paid in the form of rent, and every year he would approach more nearly the time when he would become the owner of the farm he occupied.

§ LORD CAIRNS
suggested that the debate should be postponed until Friday next.