The Arrears Bill has been discussed in the Commons, on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Monday, a motion by Sir Stafford North cote, requiring an application to the Court for the remission of arrears to be made jointly by landlord and tenant, and not by either without the other's con- sent, was discussed, and negatived by a majority of 78 (248 to 170). On Tuesday, the chief subject of discussion at the after- noon and evening sittings was the very delicate one of the reserves -under which the tenants are to be entitled to take advantage of the Arrears Bill, the first question being whether they shall be so entitled if the arrears are owing to their " wilful default;" and the next, how far the value of the tenant-right is to be set off against the deficient arrears. Mr. Gladstone proposed on Tues- day, after a good deal of discussion, that "the Commissioners may, if they think it reasonable, take into account the value of the tenant's holding ;" and he was willing to provide that, in -order to qualify the tenant to take advantage of the Bill, he must be able to prove that he could not pay up his arrears '" without the loss of his holding, or the deprivation of the means necessary to its cultivation." These last words were adopted ; and the other clause empowering the Commissioners, if they think it reasonable, to take into account the value of the holding, was also agreed to on Thursday, after some discussion. On Wednesday, the principle of a loan, as distinguished from a gift, by the State, was raised by Mr. Ecroyd, and rejected, by a majority of 101 (268 against 167).
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