The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-12 00:00:00

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4

IALPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAT, MAY 11.
The LORD CRAIOIII.4OI took hie most ea the wookeek M
5 o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read • third time and passed:—
Rom and Cromarty Roads Bill, Stafford Churchbridge
Az. Roads Rill, South Staffordshire Water Bill, and New-
castle and Gateshead Water Bill.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the second
reading of the Tenure (Ireland) Bill, the objects of which
were to provide that neither landlord nor tenant should
have • locus standi in any court unless there had been a
previous written contract, and to abolish the power of
distraint.
Lord DLIFFREIN could not assent to the second read-
ing of this bill, as the government had introduced • mea-
sure on *ha lame subject in the other house ; besides
which, ha doubted whether, notwithstanding the cares
with which this bill had been pared, it would at all
remedy the evils which it professed to cure.
Lord LIFFORD suggested that the bill be read a second
time, and then be referred to a select committee, to which
Lord Clanricarde assented.
The discussion was continued at some length, Lord
Wicklow suggesting the withdrawal of the motion, and
Lords Drogheda and Clancarty supporting the second
reading.
Lord BANDON opposed the bill, and contended that
the present relations of landlord and tenant were per-
fectly satisfactory.
Lord DUNSANY also objected to the bill as interfering
with the natural rights of parties to make their own bar-
gains, and hinted • suspicion that the comrade= of the
government to certain extreme Dish politicians upon this
and other subjects had been made with a view to secure
political support.
Lord WODEHOUSE denied that the tenure question
bad been taken up by the government in any seliish
but solely from a desire to benefit Ireland. The bill of
the government would, he believed, be found calculated
to settle satisfactorily this much vexed question, a result
which he did not anticipate would fall upon the laming of
the bill now submitted to the house.
Lord DERBY remarked that the difficulties connected
with this question sprung from exaggerated notions of the
rights of tenants. He was favourable to the principle of
compensating tenants for improvements, but at the same '
time the landlord should have the right of selecting his I
tenants, so that he might let his property to those who
would and could make improvements. Lord Derby added
that he was inclined to vote for the second reading of this
bill, but thought that no inconvenience would be sustained
if that stags wens postponed until the government measure
came before the house.
Earl GRANVILLEsaid that the government were most
anxious not to take any course which would appear to east
a slight either upon the noble marquis or upon the subject
with wilich he sought to deal. All that he would say with
referenai to the bill which had been introduced by the
fitsvernosent into the other house, was that it was founded
upon the principle recommended by the noble earl oppo-
site, that tenants should be compensated for improve-
ments which they had effected, and was in no way based
Tx. the
.notion that they had an indefeasible right to
of the land. Even those who had spoken
in possessors
of the bill of the noble marquis had ad-
mitted that it was in some respects imperfect,
and it was therefore in hie opinion desirable that the
noble lord should withdraw his motion, and thus allow
himself an opportunity of removing the imperfections
which fuid been pointed out.
Earl GREY recommended his noble friend to accede to
the suggestions which had been made, and to postpone his
motion for the second reading of this bill; but he could
not help expressing his regret that the course pursued by
the government left but a faint hope that • question
which bad been justly described by his noble friend the
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland could 'be disposed of in • satis-
factory manner during the present session.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE acceded to the sugges-
tions which had been made to him and withdrew his
motion, without thing any date at which he would renew
his proposal that the bill should be read a second time.