§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY), in moving the second reading of this Bill, said: My Lords, as I explained to your Lordships in moving the first reading of this Bill, it is the same Bill as that which was referred to a Select Committee last Session, and proceeded with down to Section 54. I now ask your Lordships to read the Bill a second time, in order that it may be referred hack to the Select Committee.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Chancellor.)
LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYMy Lords, your Lordships are probably aware from the newspapers that the Lord Chancellor on the 1st of January issued new Rules for the registration of land under Lord Cairns's Act of 1875, and for this purpose made use of the Ordnance maps. I have been to the office of the Land Registry, and I learn that the new Rules are working well, and that a very fair amount of business has been done considering the short time that has passed since the new Rules were issued. The Ordnance maps for the whole of England are not yet published, but I have been informed that, notwithstanding this, the head of the Ordnance Survey is prepared 550 to give maps for any place for which registration is required. I hope that under the circumstances the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack will give sufficient time for this experiment, to work, and for its effects to be observed; and that he will not, except in case of sales, insist upon compulsory registration, which would be very burdensome to all, and especially to those owners who had no occasion to deal with their property, or no intention of selling it.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and referred to a Select Committee.