The Land Bill has at last passed through Committee, or
at least will have passed through Committee before the day is over. Yesterday week a good deal of discussion took place as to the qualifications of the Assistant-Com- missioners, though no wish was expressed to limit them to the class of barristers. Mr. Gladstone consented to some general description of the qualifications required, and to agree that no Commissioner should be dismissed without an Order in Council. On Tuesday the Government proposed that on the termination of existing leases the tenant should become what is known in the Bill as a "present tenant," —that is, should have a right to apply to the Court for a judicial decision of a fair rent, and this was carried by 244 votes against 139; and a new clause quashing leases un- fairly imposed upon the tenant, in a manner inconsistent with the equity of the Land Act of 1870, was brought forward by the Government at the evening sitting of the same day, and added to the Bill, by a majority of 201 to 109. Clauses were also
added on Wednesday empowering the Land Commission to sanc- tion subletting for the purpose of providing labourers with cottages, and to prescribe the rent of such cottages, and these were passed on Thursday.
