§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Viscount Peel.)
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHI gave notice of an Amendment to Clause 1 of this Bill last night, but subsequent to my doing so an alteration was made in the Bill which, so far as I understand it, will render my Amendment unnecessary. I understand that the Bill is now not to be made applicable to Scotland.
§ VISCOUNT PEELYes, it is.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHA strong feeling exists in Scotland that Clause 1 is unsuitable to Scottish habits and customs, because there yearly tenancies do not exist, and many people are afraid that Clause 1 might have the effect of breaking Scottish leases. I do not know whether that is the case or not. The object of my Amendment was to make clear that this result would not take place. If I understand it rightly, as it is now printed no part of the Bill is to apply to Scotland.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCHIt seems almost impossible to discuss this Bill, because we have not before us the Amendments which your Lordships made on Report and we do not know what we are talking about. I understand that since the Committee stage more Amendments were made on Report.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDProbably it would be convenient if we deferred the further consideration of the Bill until to-morrow.
§ VISCOUNT PEELI am sorry to say that the Bill is improperly printed. I moved 824 an Amendment that the Bill should apply to Scotland, but as the Bill is printed it says that it should not apply to Scotland. I do not wonder, therefore, that some little difficulty has arisen, and perhaps we had better postpone the Bill until to-morrow.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCHThe Bill does not contain the Amendments which, I think, the noble Viscount moved on Report.
§ VISCOUNT PEELNo. Through some mistake in printing, my Amendments do not seem to be included. Perhaps we had better wait until to-morrow when the Bill is properly reprinted.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHAs I understand the matter, an Amendment was inserted last night on the Report stage that the Bill should not apply to Scotland.
§ VISCOUNT PEELNo; the other way.
§ Third Reading of the Bill adjourned until to-morrow.