The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-31 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS BILL.

After some other business had been disposed of, the House
resumed the consideration of this Bill in committee. On
Clause 43, which proposed that where half a year's notice
expiring with a year of tenancy was by law necessary and
sufficient for determination of a tenancy from year to year,
a year's notice SO expiring should by virtue of the Act be
necessary and sufficient for the same, though nothing in the
section should extend to a case where the tenant was
adjudged bankrupt.
Mr. MeHon moved to leave out the latter proviso relating
to bankruptcy.
The Attorney-General opposed the amendment.
After some discussion the amendment was negatived with-
out a division.
Sir G. Jenkinson moved to add after bankrupt the
words, "or when the tenant failed to pay the rent when due
and demanded."
Mr. Hunt said the Government had given every considera-
tion to the amendment, but could not accede to it.

After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn.
Mr. Rodwell then proposed to add to the clause a proviso
"that in all cases of agricultural holdings under incumbents
of ecclesiastical benefices, the occupier shall be entitled, on
the death or removal of the incumbent, to hold his land for
twelve months from the expiration of the ciurent year of his
tenancy, and that any agreement relating thereto shall con-
tinue in force for that period, subject to the provisions of
the Act."
-•• •

After a short discussion the amendment was withdrawn. I
Mr. W. Egerton moved a further amendment to exclude
from the operation of the clause persons six months in arrear
with their rent.
Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen opposed the amendment.
After a long discussion it was proposed to substitute five
for six months, with fourtilan day's grace after demand.
Upon the amended amendment put in the form of the ad-
dition to the clause of the words " or is in arrear of his rent,
the same having been lawfully demanded in writing, and not
paid within fourteen days of demand," a division was taken,
which resulted in the adoption of the amendment by 138 to
79.
Clause 43 was then agreed to as amended.
Clause 44 was agreed to after a short discussion. On Clause
45, which placed no restriction on contract, and set out that
nothing in the Act should prevent a landlord and tenant
from carrying into effect any such agreement as they thought
fit,
Mr. Knatchball-Hugessen proposed to insert after " agiee-
ment " the words "securing to the tenant bond fide compen-
sation for his unexhausted improvements."
Mr. Hunt opposed the amendment as a restriction of free-
dom of contract, and because it would make the Bill compul-
sory instead of permissive.
Sir T. D. Acland strongly supported the amendment, on
the grouild that it was necessary that the Bill should be a
reality, and satisfy the just and not extravagant demands of
the tenant farmers.
Mr. Fawcett also supported the amendment, declaring the
principle involved to be one of the greatest importance if
the amount of food produced in the country was to be
increased, and maintaining that the Bill should be made
compulsory.
Colonel Brise thought the time had not yet arrived for
compulsory legislation on the subject, and therefore op-
posed the amendment.
After some observations from Lord Etch°,
Mr. Newdegate expressed an opinion that the passing of
the amendment would be fatal to the Bill.

The Committee then divided—For the amendment, 116;
against 178; majority against, 62. Progress was then re-
ported.

UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS.

Sir C. Adderley said : I rise for the purpose of moviag for
leave to introduce a bill to make provision for giving further
powers to the Board of Trade for stopping unseaworthy ships,
the measure the Government recommend to Parliament on
the abandonment of their larger and more complete measure
for the amendment of the Merchant Shipping Acts That
complete measure proposed means for checking, the over-
loading of ships, for making more definite the liability of
shipowners for life and property at sea, for consolidating
provisions for discipline at sea, and for improving
the mode of inquiry into casualties at sea. The
hon. member for Derby (Mr. Plimsoll) also introduced a
bill on the subject, which supplemented the existing clsssi-
fication of ships by requiring the Government to undertake
the complete survey of ships. I believe that the Govern-
ment bill was framed on a right principle, namely, that of
enforcing the responsibility of those who conduct the
mercantile service of the country to take all reasonable
measures of precaution to preserve the lives of those ea-
gaged in the mercantile service. Unfortunately that
measure has lapsed through want of time, and its
passage has been prevented through Parliament this
session. But there are other measures which must
be taken at once, and in particular the Govern-
ment feel that they are baund to stop unseaworthy
ships from going to sea. This is not the first time that we
have attempted to legislate on the subject. We have
passed many Acts already, and I need not point out that en
extra stimulus has been given to legislation by the action of
the hon. member for Derby. There are the Acts of 1871 and
1873, which empower the Board of Trade, on complaint, or
on their having any other means of believing that a
ship is going to sea in an unseaworthy condition,
to detain her for survey. There are also powers
in these Acts enabling one fourth of the crew to
allege in defence of desertion that the ship was in
an unseaworthy condition and to demand a survey. I
can only say that these powers have to the utmost
ability of the department been carried out, and in the course
of two years no less than 558 ships have been stopped under
these powers—(hear, hear)—upon the ground of want
of survey and bad construction, and about 58 on the
ground of being overloaded. Indeed, such care has been
taken in carrying out the Acts that of these 558 ships 515
have on investigation been proved to be unseaworthy.
(Hear, hear). This shows that scarcely any have been
stopped except upon valid grounds, and it shows futther
that the Acts have been passed in the interest of the lives
of our seamen. (Cheers.) I may add that the 58 ships which
have been stopped on the ground of overloading, have all
had to lighten their cargoes. The Bill which I now ask the
House to allow me to introduce purposes to carry out
still further the provisions of these acts to strengthen
the executive, and to give the Government more rapid
and direct action in this direction. The Bill proposed
to enable the Government to appoint officers forth-
with, and from time to time, in sufficient numbers to
detain unseaworthy ships for survey. The proposals
made in the Bill are only for one year, both on account of
the strong powers asked for, and also as a guarantee that
the Government will lose no time next session in legislating
on the subject. The Bill also proposes to allow one-fourth
of any crew, which has already the power I have alluded to,
without the preliminary of desertion, and without even the
barrier of giving security for costs to demand a survey of the
ship. (Cheers.) Precautions, of course, will be taken against
frivolous or vexations allegations. These are all the
provisions which the Bill proposes, and I hope that
by them a great number of ships will be prevented
In the interval before we can pass a complete measure
from going to sea in an unseaworthy condition. I
can only conclude by saying that these preventive measures
for increasing the security of life at sea are, in our opinion
of the first importance ; and I know very well that there
is no difference of opinion upon this side of the House, or
upon the other, or. indeed, in any section of the House on
that subject. We are all deeply anxious for the increased
security for the lives of our seamen in that perilous, and, at
the same time, most important enterprise which the
merchant seamen of the country carry on. We can only
endeavour to secure the concession of the necessary powers
to achieve the greater security of their lives, and if
Parliament will consent to give the Government those
powers which they ask for on the present occasion, I can
speak for the sincerity and earnestness of the Government
in wishing to maintain and carry out a Bill and complete
measure on the earliest occasion next session, and I can
promise on the behalf of the Board of Trade that it Parlia-
ment grants these powers they will be resolutely and effec-
tively carried- out by that department. I have only now, Sir,
to move for leave to introduce this BilL (Cheers.)
After a lengthened discussion, in which several hon. mem-
bers took part, Mr. Disraeli suggested, considering the time
of year, that the second reading should take place on Friday
morning as first order.
Leave to introduce the Bill was then given.
The other orders were disposed of, and the House ad-
journed.