§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, its object was to remedy certain defects in the Land Act of 1870, so far as related to the purchase by tenants of their holdings. The new regulations proposed by the Bill would enable a tenant to make application to the Board of Works for an advance after as well as before he had made his bargain for the purchase of his holding, and the Board might advance two-thirds of the value; when a tenant purchased his holding through the Landed Estates Court, that Court and not the Civil Bill Court was to charge the annuity payable in respect of the advance of the Board; and thirdly, the Board were authorized to make advances to the tenant on purchases effected through the Landed Estates Court; and fourthly, it was declared that the letting of portions of an agricultural holding for the purpose of building necessary cottages, with land not exceeding half an acre in each case, should not be a cause of forfeiture.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Marquess of Lansdowne.)
§ THE EARL OF BANDONsaid, the Act of 1870 was very difficult of comprehension, and would require many amendments before it could become clear. He would point out two or three doubtful points in the present measure. In future, if the landlord and tenant agreed upon the terms of the sale, and the Solicitor to the Board of Works was satisfied, it would be unnecessary for them to apply to the Landed Estates Court; but in that case the purchaser would not obtain a Parliamentary title to the land he bought. Again, under sub-section 4, a tenant was empowered to sublet a portion of his holding for labourers' cottages—a power that he was afraid would give rise to many abuses.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEpromised, on behalf of the Government, to consider bath the suggestions of the noble Earl.
§ Motion agreed to:—Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.