IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13524, 23 August 1907, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

MEASURE IN THE LORDS

By Telegraph.—-Press Association.—Copyright

London, August .21. The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill has been read a second time in the House of Lords by 111 votes to 79. Seventeen of the bishops voted with the minority.

The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. R. T. Davidson) insisted that there was no popular demand for the Bill. Lord James of Hereford and the Lord Chancellor (Lord Loreburn) supported the measure.

SCOTTISH SMALL HOLDINGS. (Received August 22. 10.55 p.m.) London, August 22. The Government has abandoned the Scottish Small Holdings Bill, though the Marquis of Lansdowne said that the House of Lords was prepared to read it a second time if it was understood that it would be amended in committee with a view to rejecting the proposal to establish a Scottish Land Court on the Irish model, but introducing provisions closely resembling the English Small Holdings Bill. The Marquis of Ripon declared that it would be waste of time to proceed with the measure. Lord Tweedniouth said the amendments suggested would eviscerate the Bill.

Lord Roscbery declared that _ the responsibility of postponing legislation. to s ameliorate the condition of the crofters rested with the Government, since the House of Lords was prepared to preserve the clauses dealing with crofters.

IN THE COMMONS. EVICTED TENANTS. London, August 21. The House of Commons spent an all-night sitting in the discussion of the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Bill. The House disagreed with several amendments made by the House of Lords, and notably with that limiting the number of evicted tenants. The Government, however, agreed to restrict the operation of the Act to four years instead of three, for the acquisition of land and the determination of tenancies.