The Commons Bill passed through Committee on Thursday night. The
Government have accepted several amendments on matters of detail, which will no doubt improve the working of the Act. But they have steadily and successfully opposed the more important proposals mde,—they will not provide any effectual means for the prevention of illegal inclosures ; they will not exempt suburban commons from the operation of the Bill ; and
they will not give any security beyond the discretion of the In- closure Commissioners for the provision, upon inclosure, of adequate allotments for the poor and for recreation. One valu- able concession they did make on Thursday night,—they agreed that the expediency of the thirty-four inclosures already recommended by the Inclosure Commissioners (upon many of which we recently commented) should be reconsidered. It is to be regretted that throughout the discussions on this Bill, the front Bench of the Opposition has been practically represented by Mr. Shaw-Lefevre alone. Upon a subject on which many Liberals feel strongly, that gentleman had a right to some support from his former colleagues. Sir W. Harcourt and Sir Henry James did, indeed, take part, with effect in the closing discussion in Committee, and as the Bill will still require careful consideration when reprinted, perhaps it is not too late to expect that more united action will be taken.
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