CONSIDERATION OF COMMONS' AMENDMENTS (Hansard, 1 August 1882)

§ EARL CAIRNS
said, that he had to ask their Lordships to consider the Amendments which had been made in this Bill by the House of Commons. The Bill had been referred by the House of Commons to a Select Committee, presided over by Sir R. Assheton Cross, and composed of some of the strongest Members of the other House, both as regarded 361 legal attainments and knowledge on the subject of land. That Committee considered the Bill with great care, and introduced certain Amendments into it. It spoke very eloquently for the solidity of the labours of that Committee, that when the Bill was reported to the House of Commons and recommitted, there was not a single further change made. Although the Amendments made by the Commons appeared to be numerous, yet a considerable number of them consisted of the transfer of a number of clauses from the Conveyancing Bill. A certain number of the Amendments were connected with the subject of married women. Some Amendments were improvements, and others not; but he was glad to admit that not a single one interfered with the general principle of the Bill. If it were a different period of the Session, he might propose a few verbal Amendments; but, under the circumstances, he should not do so. Therefore, he had the pleasing task of asking their Lordships to accept the Bill as it stood. He returned his warm thanks to Members of the Legislature on both sides, in both Houses, for their valuable assistance on the Bill. He felt convinced that when it became law it would have a most beneficial effect on the Land Law of this country. That was not only his own opinion, but it was also the opinion of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, over which the noble Duke (the Duke of Richmond) had presided. He trusted their Lordships would accept the Amendments.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
said, it was a cause of great satisfaction to him that the work of his noble and learned Friend (Earl Cairns) had been crowned with success. He tendered him his sincere congratulations on the passing of the measure, which would add to a reputation which was already so high that it could hardly be increased.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
said, he had nothing to add to the congratulations which the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack had just offered to his noble and learned Friend (Earl Cairns), except to take note of his own gratification in finding himself in a wholly unusual position. The House of Commons had made certain Amendments in the Bill—Amendments which were usually called Conservative—and they had struck out certain provisions originally sug- 362 gested by himself, making alterations in the law, so that he had, therefore, the gratification of finding himself considerably ahead of the present House of Commons.