Lord Cairns introduced his new Land Transfer measures into the
House of Lords on Thursday. They are modest, and evi- dently aim at nothing beyond simplifying titles, and making it -easier for real owners to give a good title ; but if that is well done, it will be useful enough. There are three Bills. The first and most important introduces a registration of three kinds of titles,--an indefeasible title ; a limited title, certified as good for -a particular number of years back, but not beyond that period ; and a simple title of a proprietor in possession and assert- ing himself to be owner. Moreover, if an owner comes before the Registrar with a title that is otherwise good, but liable to a certain theoretic imperfection, the Registrar may state the imper- fection to the Court, and if the Court is satisfied that it is imma- terial, it is to be at liberty to certify the title as indefeasible. The sixty years for which at present the Court of Chancery requires a title is to be changed to forty years ; the Registrar may accept forty years' title, provided there is nothing to lead him to suspect an earlier flaw. The " boundaries " are not to be settled in the Register, but the Registrar is to describe them as best he can, leaving any dispute about them to be settled on the spot. And this is so decided on the ground that a question of unsettled boundaries hardly ever creates difficulties in buying and selling according to Lord Cairns,—uncertain boundaries re. maining uncertain till they are settled by common consent. Regis- tration, for three years to come, is tobe perfectly voluntary ; after- wards, without registration, a man will have only an equitable title, and no legal title till he registers. This is the chief measure. There are other measures with regard to the limitation of claims and actions, and altering the laws of vendor and purchaser ; but this seems to be the most important of the new proposals. It is certainly eminently modest and, we hope, practical.
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