The Solicitor-General for Scotland, in a conciliatory speech, contended that
the Bill secured the maximum of gain with the minimum of change. The conditions it proposed were such that it was an abuse of language to speak of dual ownership, and he bad never heard any reason why, if that result did ensue, the disasters which had followed dual ownership in Ireland should confront them in Scotland. The costliness and delays of the Irish system were completely guarded against in the Scottish system, and the supporters of this Bill had nothing to fear from the Irish example. Further hostile criticism of the Bill was contributed by Mr. Walter Long, Mr. Lambton, who, in a most amusing speech, suggested the application of the principle of the Land Court to commerce, Sir Henry Craik, and Mr. Cochrane, who quoted facts and figures demolishing the Premier's statement that the claim for small holdings had been met by a blank denial. Of the speeches in favour of the Bill, by far the most significant was that of Mr. Barnes, the Labour Member, who stated that the Labour Party were going to support the Bill on the whole, but frankly admitted that he really did not know who was going to be the landlord under it.
Previous page
