found set out at page 41 of the new facts. The Bills which I have introPostal Regulations. He could not tell duced have not been brought in by me the noble Lord whether the reform would at the instance of the officials of the take as long as he inferred before it Land Registry. My noble predecessor should become general, but this he is responsible for the other Bills, and I might say, that it was the intention of have his authority for saying that, in the Post Office Department to cause the his case also, no opinions of the officials system to become general as soon as of the Land Registry influenced his possible. It was not, however, thought desirable to incur the very great expense of making this alteration on all the stamps in the United Kingdom at one and the same time. He hoped that the noble Lord would be satisfied with the assurance that the system which he had pressed for would be introduced speedily as possible throughout the Kingdom.

LAND TRANSFER BILL.

as

any

action. I have every desire to see reform and improvement in the transfer of land, but I certainly should not, at the instance of the officials of the Land Registry, and with the view of increasing the fees there, have put myself to the trouble of introducing measures such as this, nor should I have dreamed of inviting your Lordships to pass into law a measure of this importance merely that the fees of the Land Registry might be increased. Nothing of that has operated on my mind or, I am assured, on that of my predecessor in office. We have believed-we believe now-that a system of land registration would be of great advantage to the people of this country

THE LORD CHANCELLOR, in rising to move the Third Reading of this Bill said I did not intend to make observations at this stage, the Bill having already been before your Lordships more than once, but my attention has been to the owners, purchasers, and sellers called to some remarks recently made with regard to it which, I think, require an answer and explanation. The President of the Incorporated Law Society has recently been examined before a Committee of the other House with reference to the expediency of appointing a State trustee, and in the course of his evidence he said :-

of land—and it is in that belief that we have asked your Lordships to pass this measure through your House. I have, I own, very considerable sympathy with the objections taken by solicitors and others to what is called "officialism." Speaking generally, I do not think it desirable that the State should, through its officials, compete with professional people of any description, or that they should do the work which would otherwise be done. by professional men. But I limit that expression of opinion to the cases where professional men can do the work. In founding this system, we are dealing Now, this is the passage to which I with a proposal which solicitors cannot specially take exception :

"The present idea is that the employment of the official trustee by the public is to be voluntary, but there is very little doubt, judging by our experience in the past, that an effort would be made to extend his employment in every possible way."

"I see the Lord Chancellor, in his evidence before the Committee, objects to the term

'attracting business,' because it looks as if the official trustee would attempt to get business. The Land Registry was established as a purely voluntary system. In that capacity it failed; and, having failed to attract business, the officials have induced the Lord Chancellor in seven out of the last nine years to bring Bills into Parliament to make the use of the registry compulsory in a district to be named, with a view, of course, to make it compulsory throughout the country."

give effect to. A system of land registration can only be established by the State, and the State, in establishing it, is not competing with professional men, but is undertaking a work in the interests of the public-a work which it is quite impossible that professional men can give effect to. I have formed a decided opinion that a measure of this kind would be advantageous, and I think I can appeal to broad experience in its favour. Almost every country, including many of our own colonies, has adopted I am, no doubt, responsible for some of a system either of registration of title or those measures, and I desire to state registration of deeds; and in some that these statements have been made countries-Germany and Hungary, for under a complete misapprehension of the instance that has been done after

experience of the working of similar mea- | having favoured me with briefs I should sures in those countries. I cannot doubt not have occupied it; and he thought it that what has proved beneficial in so a very poor return for this that I should many parts of the world, under so many strive to work a deadly injury by such a systems of government and administrameasure. I believe that this impression tion, and with differing laws, would be found applicable in this country also. is exaggerated, but, nevertheless, one The system has worked well in our finds in certain quarters those who colonies, and I have not heard a sugges- entertain it, and it accounts for a certain tion that it would be well to revert to amount of opposition, unconsciously the system in use in those colonies before. dictated, no doubt, by feelings of that That appears to me to be an overwhelm- description. Of course I do not pretend ing body of testimony in favour of a that this measure is perfect. It is inmeasure of this sort. It has been said tended, in the first instance, to be that the change would give facilities for tentative only. There are already two fraud. I am not of that opinion. At counties in England where registration least, I have this to appeal to that in of deeds is compulsory; and I think the colonies which I have referred to an everyone is agreed that it is a system insurance fund has been established. which has not proved altogether satisThe calls on this insurance fund have factory in its working. The object of been altogether without importance; the Bill is to enable a trial to be made and that, I think, affords one good of the system of registration of title in evidence for saying that that apprehen- lieu of registration of deeds, and it is a sion is not likely to be well founded. system justified by the experience of The opposition to this Bill, no doubt, other countries and of our colonies. I has been strongly urged by the solicitors believe that when the system comes into in this country. I do not for a moment operation it will be found to be very mean to indicate or to suggest, from know- beneficial. One word as to the observaledge or experience, that they are con- tion that the Bill is being introduced sciously actuated by any motives of self- because land registry under a voluntary interest. I believe they are perfectly system had failed to attract business. I honest in the opposition which they have do not think that is altogether an accuraised; but it is a striking fact that it rate description. There has been a very is only, as far as I know, from them that considerable amount of land registration any opposition to this Bill proceeds. I in the land register under a voluntary have received many letters on the sub-system; but I think this is an instance ject of the Bill. I have received many in which it is impossible to conclude that encouragements to proceed with it, and the fact that a small amount of land has many expressions of a hope that it will been registered has resulted from disbe passed into law; but, except from satisfaction with the system. The truth solicitors, I have not received any note is that those who, I believe, would be of opposition or hostility to it. No doubt benefited by the system-namely, the there have been many suggestions for its owners of land-have been largely unamendment, and for the making of the aware of the advantages of the measure. system more perfect. Although I do They purchase a piece of land, or some not for a moment intend to say that the transaction takes place with reference to solicitors in their opposition are actuated land; they leave the whole matter to be by any conscious self-interest, yet un- carried out by the solicitors; and the doubtedly some of them are very fully fact that there is a land registry, and alive to the impression that the result of that the land might be registered occurs passing the Bill would be very dis- in truth to very few owners indeed. I advantageous to them. I have received have already quoted my own from a solicitor in the West of England I purchase a small piece of land. I a letter, in which he reproached me should have been glad if such a measure bitterly for having invited your Lord- as this had been in force, where, as a ships to pass such a Bill. He called my matter of course, the land passed on the attention to the fact that it was to the register in consequence of the transacsolicitors of this country I owed my tion; but one has many things to think present position, because without their about, and the idea of the land register Lord Chancellor.

case.

decision-a decision at which I have changes, I have witnessed changes in arrived, I hope I need not assure the the procedure of this House, and I would House, after deep deliberation and venture to say that although Standing with the utmost reluctance. ["Hear, Orders and Rules of this House, when hear!"] Elected to this Chair more than

me.

are in force, 11 years ago, and thrice re-elected, they are enacted and I have passed through many Sessions. I ought to be observed both in the desire unreservedly to say that I have spirit and in the letter, yet that received from all sides of the House a neither Rules, nor Orders, nor Standconsideration and a forbearance which ing Orders of this House are of perhave greatly mitigated the sense of manent and lasting obligation. They responsibility, and greatly alleviated the must change as circumstances change. mere physical labour of sitting in this One thing I venture to think is abso Chair. I have passed through many lutely essential, and that is that we Sessions, some of storm and stress, some should pay regard to those honourable others of comparative, but only of com- traditions, and to that great code of law, parative, repose. But in all that time I unwritten though it be, which is of imdesire to acknowledge most earnestly, and perative and stringent obligation, if that from the bottom of my heart, the way in continuity of sentiment is to be mainwhich hon. Members on both sides and tained to which all institutions owe so on all sides of the House have treated much, to which this House has at all times If during that time I have given attached so much value, and to the offence to any one Member, or more observance of which it owes so many inMembers, or to any section of the House, estimable advantages. [Cheers.] Finally, I hope that an Act of Oblivion may be let me say a few parting words in passed. [Cheers.] If I have ever de- conclusion; and I wish to speak, viated from that calm which should not with the brief remnant of authority characterise the utterances of the occu- which is still left to me with the sands pant of this Chair, I hope every of my official life rapidly running single Member of the House will be-out, I would rather speak as a Member lieve me when I say that I have never of 30 years' experience in this House been consciously actuated by any personal who speaks to his brother Members and or political feeling-[Loud cheers]-and comrades, if I may dare to use the that, in all I have done and said, I have, term. [Cheers.] I would fain hope that, at least according to my poor judgment, by the co-operation of all its Members, tried to consult the advantage and the this House may continue to be a pattern permanent interests of this Assembly. and a model to foreign nations, and to Cheers.] Speaking as your representa- those great peoples who have left our tive, and speaking on my own behalf, I shores and have carried our blood, our desire to thank all officers of this House race, our language, our institutions, and -all those who are in any way concerned our habits of thought to the uttermost with enabling this great legislative ma- parts of the earth. I would fain indulge chine to go on smoothly from day to in the belief and the hope, and as day for the assistance which I have I speak with the traditions of this House received from them. I desire, in- and its glorious memories crowding on asmuch as I am more immediately my mind, that hope and that belief brought into contact with them, to thank become stronger and more emphasised, the Clerk of this House and the two though with both hope and belief I Gentlemen who sit with him at the Table. would couple an earnest but an humble [Cheers.] The House knows their ser- prayer that this House may have centuries vices; but no one knows better than he of honour, of dignity, and of usefulness who is now taking his leave of before it; and that it may continue to the House, and who has so often hold, not a prominent only, but a first taken advantage of their counsel and foremost position among the Legisand advice-no one, I say, can have lative Assemblies of the world. [Loud a deeper consciousness than I of their cheers.] unostentatious labours. [Cheers.] I THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXhave said that I have passed through CHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT, Derby): many Sessions; I have witnessed many Mr. Speaker, the House has heard with Mr. Speaker.

deep and painful emotion the announcement you have found it your duty to make. ["Hear, hear."] The sentiment to which that announcement gives rise in the heart of every man-I say it, I am sure, with truth-wherever in this House he sits, is one of profound regret at the immeasurable loss which we are destined to sustain and of heartfelt gratitude to you, Sir, for the memorable services which you have rendered to this House and to your country. [Cheers.] This is not the occasion on which we are to give adequate utterance to those feelings; but I am sure I shall have the cordial support of the House when I give notice that to

morrow I shall move :

"That the thanks of this House be given to Mr. Speaker for his distinguished services in the Chair for more than 11 years; that he be assured that this House fully appreciates the zeal and ability with which he has discharged the duties of his high office through a period of unusual labour, difficulty, and anxiety, and the judgment and firmness with which he has maintained its privileges and dignity; and that this House feels the strongest sense of his unremitting attention to the constantly in creasing business of Parliament, and the uniform urbanity and kindness which have earned for him the respect and esteem of this House."

When that Motion has been carried, as it will be, I am sure, nemine contradicente, I shall also move :—

QUESTIONS.

IRISH CARBONIFEROUS SANDSTONE.

MR. R. A. YERBURGH (Chester): I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that quarries exist at Mount Charles, County Donegal, of very beautiful and durable building stone (carboniferous sandstone), which has the advantage of keeping its colour when Portland stone will turn black, and that the said stone has been used in the new buildings of the Royal Dublin Society in Kildare Street; and whether he will take steps to have it used in public buildings in England and Scotland?

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (MR. HERBERT GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.): I have no knowledge of the stone referred to by the hon. Member, and I should fear that the cost of carriage to London, or, indeed, to any of the eastern or central districts of Great Britain, would be prohibitive of its use. If, however, the hon. Member will cause me to be furnished with a specimen of the stone, and with further particulars as cost of transport, I shall be happy to to quality and cost, and as to means and have the matter examined into in my Department.

"That an humble Address be presented to WICKLOW BREAKWATER. Her Majesty praying Her Majesty that she will MR. J. O'CONNOR: On behalf of be most graciously pleased to confer some signal mark of Her Royal favour upon the Right Hon. the hon. Member for East Wicklow, Mr. Arthur Wellesley Peel, Speaker of this House, J. SWEETMAN, I beg to ask the Secretary for his eminent services during the important to the Treasury whether the very critical period in which he has with such distinguished condition of the breakwater at Wicklow ability and dignity presided in the Chair of this House, and assuring Her Majesty that whatever expense Her Majesty shall think fit to be incurred upon that account this House will make good the same." [Cheers.]

MR. BALFOUR: It will to-morrow be my melancholy privilege to second the Resolution of which the right hon. Gentleman has just given notice. I will, therefore, do nothing more on the present occasion than express the profound grief, on personal as well as public grounds, with which I have listened to the announcement which you, Sir, have made from the Chair.

has been reported to the Board of Public Works, the engineer having stated that no one could now give this pier a month's lease; whether he is aware that the Commissioners of the Harbour, who are at present expending some £2,000 with a contractor on urgent temporary repairs, have during the past ten months made constant application to the Treasury, through the Chief Secretary and through the Board of Public Works, for a grant to enable them to secure the breakwater

and improve the harbour; that they have obtained and laid before the Board of Public Works, by its directions, plans, specifications, and a tender for repairing