The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-03 00:00:00

TRANSFER OF LAND BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. WALPOLE presented petitions from certain legal
bodies in different parts of the United Kingdom praying
against the bill in its present form, and that amendments
should be introduced for the purpose of giving effect to the
recommendations of the commission of 1854.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in moving the second
reading of this bill, referred to the advantages which had
resulted in Ireland from the alteration which had taken
place in the sale and transfer of land. The right hon.
gentleman then described the present state of the law on
this subject, and said that the object of this bill was to
remedy the existing defects. It was proposed by the bill to
afford additional facilities for the transfer of land, and to do
away with those unnecessary restrictions which im:hoeictdehrtlthhteherayc
sale and purchase of land in the country at present. ii;
expres,ed his full appreciation of the labours
should be offer
of thecom-
missioners-
of 1854, but he contended that Bora, . e
second reading of the bill,y though he dis-
were not calcußlaNtesd
staoideffheectshthoue
poss
iitrion H.
Co contemplated.Athl
seated from one or two of its principles. He referred to
any op-
portions of the bill which would, in his opinion, require
1 large amendments, and observed that its working would
very much depend upon the administrative hand to which
I it was to be intrusted—namely, the solo authority to de id
dy, the
only chance cregistrar, who was to
of e h
w e t h
presenting
r h e
twaso to
the
e oadjudicateuntry
a
or not. The
measure of this kind that would work well was to appoint
a person to work it whose weight would command the con-
fidence of landholders. He trusted that the Government
would allow this bill,
part of which was in direct anta-
gonism to the report of a royal commission, to be referred
to a select committee.
After some remarks by Mr. SCULLY,
Sir F. KELLY said he did not oppose the second read-
ing of the bill, but it must undergo the consideration of a
select committee or a deliberate and searching examination
by a committee of the whole house. The machinery of the
bill was, in his opinion, radically defective and imperfect.
The bill, however, could be so modified and improved as to
confer a great benefit upon the country. Ile thought that
part of the bill which was in fact a system of registration
of assurances was an encumbrance.

Mr. MALINS said unless such a measure was oompul-
sory, not optional, it never would work. Ho believed that,
if the bill passed in its present form, it would be a dead
letter. He did not, however, oppose the progress of the
bill; but he put it to the house whether great expense
should be incurred for the sake of a theory that could have
no practical re,ult.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed that, the evils
being admitted, the question was whether the plan proposch
ed
was likely to remedy them, and the ground upon whi
this measure was introduced was that, though not in every
Particular perfect, it was as well-davised a remedy as, under
existing circumstances, persons opapetent skill as,
gm.
' •

perience could suggest. He replied to the specific objections
urged by Mr. Molina, Sir H. Cairns, and Sir F. Kelly. Ha
was not deterred, he said, from supporting the bill becausa
it contained what lawyers called a registration of assurances,
against which he had heard no real objection, except that
the landholders of England would not submit to it. But
he contended that such a so-called registration of assuran-
ces had been submitted to by them.

Mr. ROLT did not oppose the second reading of the bill,
but he strongly recommended that it should be referred to
a select committee. The bill differed widely from the
report of the royal commission, and the objections could
not be discussed with so much advantage in a committee
of the whole house as in a select committee.
Sir F. GOLDSMID drew attention to certain points in
the proposed plan which, he thought, required consideration.
Mr. DUNLOP made a few observations, and the bill
was read a second time.

Mr. ROLT, in moving the second reading of the Decla-
ration of Title Bill (likewise received from the Lords),
explained the object of the measure and its main provisions.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL made a few remarks
upon the bill, the second reading of whizih he did not oppose;
and, after a very short discussion, it was read a second time.
Mr. ROLT then moved that the Security of Purchasers
Bill (also sent from the other house) be read a second time,
explaining, as in the former case, its object and provisions.
This bill, after some observations by the SOLICITOR-
GENERAL, was read a second time.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL moved the second
reading of the Real Property (Titles of Purchasers) Bill—
another measure received from the Lords—which, after a
short explanation from himself and a remark by Sir H .
CAIRNS, was read a second time.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL moved the second read-
ing of the Assurances Registration (Ireland) Bill. He
stated what had been the legislation upon this subject up to
the present time ; the existing state of the registration ;
the evils which the bill proposed to remedy (including the
heavy arrears), and the remedies themselves. The bill, he
said, had been very carefully prepared by the law advisers
of the Crown in Ireland, and he believed it would be found
a very useful measure.
Mr. HASSARD objected to various matters of detail is
the bill, and urged the Government to refer it to a select
committee.
A discussion of some length ensued with reference chiefly
to the question whether the bill should go before a select
committee.
Mr. HENNESSY moved to defor the second reading for
three months.

This amendment was seconded by Mr. OSBORNE, who
said he lookel with some suspicion at the bill, which was,
in his opinion, peculiarly fitted for a select committee.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL consented to refer the
bill to a select committee, and the amendment being there.
upon withdrawn, the bill was read a second time, and ordered
to be referred to a select committee.

On the order for the third reading of the Highways Bill,
Mr. BARROW renewed his opposition to the bill, and
moved to defer the third reading for three months.
Mr. FREELAND entered his emphatio and deliberate
protest against a bill which ran counter to the principle that
taxation and representation should go together.
Mr. H. BRUCE supported the bill from his experience
of the working of the Welsh Act.
After some remarks by Sir B. LIAIGHTON,
Sir G. GREY briefly replied to the objections sug
by Mr. Barrow.
Mr. THOMPSON and Mr. G. HARDY spoke in favour of
the bill, which was opposed by Mr. NEIIIDEGATE.
Upon a division, the amendment was negatived by 162
to 31, and the bill was read a third time and passed.
On the report upon the Merchant Shipping Acts, &0.,
Amendment Bill, is i o clauses were added, when the debate
was adjourned.
The Jurisdiction in Homicides Bill, the Rifle Volunteer
Grounds Act Amendment Bill, and the Sandhurst Vesting
Bill passed the committee.
The Education of Pauper Children Bill was read a third
time and passed, and the house adjourned at 20 minutes
past 12 o'clock,