§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE EARL OF DENBIGHMy Lords, this Bill, which was treated as entirely non-controversial in another place, is a very short one, and has been introduced for the purpose of preventing what would practically be the cessation of 686 land purchase under the existing system. The purpose of the Bill is to amend Sub-section 1 of Section 9 of the Land Purchase Act, 1891, which provides that advances for the purchase of holdings in any county shall not exceed a sum equal to twenty-five times the guarantee fund of the county. It was pointed out in the other House that in the county of Wexford loans had been issued up to £737,000, whereas the credit of Wexford was calculated to be £742,000, leaving a margin of only £5,000. Therefore in the county of Wexford land purchase would be practically at a standstill unless there was some extension of the Land Act of 1891. This Bill gives discretionary power to increase the advances in any one county when the Lord Lieutenant recommends such an extension, or when the Treasury is of opinion that a further advance can be made without loss. Discretion is also given to the Lord Lieutenant and the Treasury in respect of advances to the Congested Districts Board under Section 43 of the Land Act, 1896. This section is indispensable to the voluntary purchase of land by the Congested Districts Board.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Denbigh.)
§ On Question, agreed to.
§ Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.