The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-03-12 00:00:00

PET 1/411, PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Lords, March 7, Lord Clanficarde flied next
riday for his inothm on the state of Ireland, adding that
whutever course was taken with the land question, it was
the first and Imperative duty of the Government to make
Ireland fit for civilized beings to live in.

Lord Carnes/on drew attention to the dangers to which the
colimists of New Zealand were exposed from the Maorles
Ile cninlientie.l the harsh and uncinicillatory policy of the
Colonial tee°, amt urged that the 10th Regiment ought at
least to be left for • little longer In the colony.
- . . •

--c •
Lord Granville, in replying, observed that the withdrawal
of the regiment in question hail been ordered before he came
Into office by his predecessor, the Nike of Buckingham. The
policy id ii.ilitary occupation having been Alelinerately
absmioned, It would not be right suddenly to revert to It.
The aim should be to make the colonists self-reliant, and re-
sponsible for the consennences of their own acts lie had
passed molly painful and anxious hours since he had been in
office, but he was supported by the assurance that the
authorised representation of New Zealand confirmed his
views. the Government had offered to the colony the ser-
vices of any number of noncommissioned officers, and also
at many soldiers as could be persuaded to volunteer for the
Colonial army,

Lord Grey held ;that there was now no alternative but to
revert to the old system of colonial government, and invest
the Home Government with a certain degree of control over
attars in New Zealand. The Government would then be free
to take adequate measures for the protection of life and pro-
perty in the colony.
Lord Lyttelton could got see any serious objection to an
imperial guarantee for • New Zealand loan.
Tile Dissolved Districts Union Bill was read a third time
and passed, and the House adjourned.
to tho House of Commons, Mr. Stapleton gave notice that
when there should be a committee on the Dial, land Bill he
would moo that the advances out of the Consolidated Fund
to tenants to enable them to purchase their farms, should be
made to those only who had held their farms for seven years,
and then only under certain restrictions.
. .

In reply to Mr. V. Harcourt,
Mr. Knatchbull-lin,,essen stated that the Government
had a bill in preparation on the subject of commons and
waste lands, and until it should be intro duced no further en-
cloture@ would be sanctioned.

Mr. Eykyn asked whether her Majesty'a Government were
preyared to interfere, in order to secure more rapid and
economical proceedings by liquidators in reference to the
limited liability companies now in course of being wound
_ .

The Attorney-General stated that her Majesty's Govern-
ment were not at present prepared to Introduce any such
measure as that indicated

.....
Mr. :qacpoole asked the hon. member for Truro, with
reference to the statement he had made upon the subject,
whether officers and soldiers permitted to wear beards in
Milli% on sanitary grounds would be compelled to shave
them Mt on landing with their regiments in our colder
climate.

Cap nVivian said it had not been considered necessaty
to sanction the wearing of beards by the army at home for
any sanitary reason, and he concluded, therefore, that
officers and soldiers on their retain from India would be
obliged to conform to the Qaeen's Regulations.
Lord .1. Manners asked the First Lord of the Treasury
when he wonld he pr.-pared to make a statement u to the
measures which the Government Intend to propose for the
better seenrity of life In Ireland?
Mr. (Hailstone said that the Uovemment would state their
intentions Immediately after the debate on the second read-
ing of the Irish Land MR.
Mr. Lowe said that communications had taken place be-
tween the English rind French Governments In regard to •
system of International coinage.

Upon the motion for the second reading of the Irish Land
Bill,
Mr. Bryan moved that It ha read a second time that day
six months. It was, he said, the universal belief in Ireland
that unless the Government acceded to amendments of so
serious a character as to change alt gether the character of
the bill, it would fail to satisfy the people. The Government
posed by a bill of pains and penalties to prevent land-
Fe.T
land-
lord, from evicting their tenants, nut such was the competi-
tion for land In Ireland that the Utilise of Commons would
pass no hill of that kind sufficiently severe to effect the
object. What he desired to see in the bill were a distinct
definition of the ancient customs of rlster, and clauses pro-
viding that the labourer should he placed in direct communi-
cation with the landowner instead of having his holding from
the tenant.larmer, and that the power of distraint for rent
should Ile altogether abolished. The Government was strong
and might. if they chose, pass the bill as it atood but if they
thought it would still the cry of justice for Ireland they were
grieviously mistaken.
Captain White seconded the mtlon.
Mr. O'Reilly Dease, Sir Hervey Bruce, Mr. Bagwell. Sir
Frederick Ileygate, Mr. Agar-E Ils, Mr. Elm, Mr. O. B.
Gregory, Mr. 11 bailey, and Mr. Brtnterick having addressed
the louse,

Mr. Chichester Fortescue said that, as compared with all
former attempts at legislation upon the subject, the Govern-
ment bill wee at least simple to its operation. It took the
custom if Ulster, where that custom existed, and legalized
It, and where It or a similar cu-tom did not exist, it enacted
the observance of rules based upon the custom of Ulster, but
adapted ti the particular part of the country to which they
applied. Thus one of the features in the measure most
promising for its success was that it was founded upon
customs which had been (sit d and proved by time. It had
been objected to the bill that it did not defies the custom of
tinter; but the framers had, after careful consideration,
thought it better to omit the &AMU, n, and simply direct the
courts to enforce the custom as they found it to exist within
their several jurisdictions. With respect to the meaning
of the direction to the courts to • enforce the custom of
Inter," it contemplatcd not only payment made by way of
compensation to the tenants, but also the right of the
tenant to the disposal of his interest in the land to his
successor. As an Irish landlord himself the right hon.
gentleman was prepared to accept the bill, knowing that it
would limit his power over his tenants, but believing that it
would only limit his power to do them wrong.

Dr. Ball believed that both the objections urged against
the bill and the high eatimation In which It was held by the
Irish Secretary were exaggerated. There were several serious
defects In it, prominent among which was the ambiguity of
Its phrasing with respect to the custom of Ulster. It decreed
that disputes were to be settled by reference to the custom
of Ulster, but there were several " customs" in Ulster, and
by which was a court to be guided I He foresaw that instead
of brirsing peace to Ireland, It would bring increased
anarchy by opening up an ever-present source of litigation.
He claim. d for Ireland the equality with England whkh the
Union Lifek.ted to have ensured for her, and which he
accused the Hoven rornt of systematically refusing tote-
knowledge in their legislation upon the Church, upon educa-
tion, and, by tiieir present measure, upon land.
Mr. Maguire moved the adjournment of the debate.
The Judges' Jurisdiction Bill and the Stamp Duty on
Leases Bill were read • second time. Mr. Burton Introduced
a series of bills for the regulation of the government of
London, aud the House adjourned.

In the Hone of Lords, March S. the Eirl of Ilsrrowby
moved the second reading of a bill for the extension of Owen
College, Manchester.
Lord Redesdale objected to the measure (the Importance
of which he admitted on the ground that it wag Cola proper
subject for private legislation, as it was not brought forward
by a constituted body. hut by a number of subscribers who
sought to be incorporated.
Lord De Grey said that the Government had come to the
conclusion that Lord Redesdale's objection was not suffi-
ciently valid to prevent the passing of the bill. Ile explained
and defended its object, trhhh he de...raged as of great
public utility.
Lord Rom illy thought the private legislation of Parliament
required close investigation and an ample refort.i.
-

on a divialon, the 7iccond reading wan carried by 33 votes
ag _ _

"sfu—r—d-ite- desdale, with some warmth, renewed his protest,
asserting that more mischief had been done that night than
had occurred during the whole time he had been Chairman
Of Committees.
.

A mart debate, In which Lord Granville and the Lord
Chancellor took part, eueueiL
Lord Redeeciale announced hie intention, in the event of
the bill being unoppoeed, to cause it to be referred to a Com-
mittee of the whole House, and their lordships ad) mrned.

In the House of Commons, Captain Dawson- Darner askel
the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention had
been direct., to the expediency of assimilating the law of
Ireland to that of Scotland with respect to the finding of
verdicts in cases in which unanimity cannot be obtained?
Mr C. Forteecue Intimated that no great change would
be made, except in connection with a general change in the
law. At the same time the consideration of the matter
would he included in the statement a hick would rho rtly be
made in the !louse by the Government on the subject of the
repression of crime.
The Rills and Motions of private members were all with-
drawn or postponed to make way for the Irish Land Bill, and
the adjourned debate on the second reading was opened by
Mr. Maguire, who devoted the first part of his speech to
answering some of Dr. Ball's remarks, and especially his
criticisme on the interference with the liberty of contract con-
templated by the bill. On the contrary, he held that it dill
not go far enough for the protection of the tenant, who, he
showed, in the great majority of cases, was at the mercy of
the landlord in making his bargain. He indicated some of
the principal points on which amendments were needed,
warmly eulogising the second part of the bill, for the creation
of a peasant proprietor clan, and concluded by earnestly
praying the co-operation of English and Scotch members in
passing a measure which would restore peace and content-
ment to Ireland.

Mr. Hunt responded to this appeal by expressing the sin-
cere desire of the Conservative party to put the bill into the
best possible shape, and he wen on to discuss it from two
points of view—its effect on the rights and relations of pre-
sent landlords and tenants, and Its value as a system of land
policy for the future. Ile agreed entirely with the clauses
relating to the Ulster and other customs, and to compensa-
tion for improvements, with these exception—the reversal
of the present presumption of law in favour of the landlord,
and the absence of any limit beyond which the tenant should
not claim. The proposed scale of damages for eviction he
characterised as an Inequitable subtraction from the rights
of the landlord, and in the same manner he asserted that
gross injustice would be done to the purchasers in the
Landed estates Courts. As a final criticism, he pointed out
that unless the legal machinery were simplified the result
must be multiplied litigation.

The Attorney-General, after intimating that the Govern-
ment would consider the expediency of putting a limit of
time on the demands for compensation' replied at length to
the criticisms of Dr. Ball. Ile denied that the bill was •
apecirnen -of dissimilar legislation for the two countries. On
the contrary, R. very first object was to compel the Irish
Courts to do what the English Courts had always done—to
recognise local custom.; and if the Irish Courts had always
done this there would have been no necessity for an
Irish Land Bill. In dealing with the rest of the country
It would have been impossible to ignore the differ-
ence between the English and the Irish tenant, each
the comparative helplessness of the Irish tenant in con-
tracting with his landlord. It would have been impossible
to define the lister Custom, or to extend it to the rest of the
country, for the bill went on the principle of recognizing
existing facts. Ile justified the treatment of the purchaser
In the Land Courts; and, in answer to the criticisms on the
local tribunals, he pointed out that it was only in rare cases
they would he put into operation.
Mr. G. IL Moore, for the first time in his political career,
supported a Land Bill emanating from the Executive All
its predecessors he had opposed as frauds and sinister devices
to avoid respoLaibility, but this was founded on just prlnei-
..ilas, and on a conscientious desire to meet as far as possible
the eyiltuble demands et public opinion In Ireland. If the
Irish people were disappointed, It was not the fault of the
bill, but of the delusions which had been spread among them.
It would require much amendment, but he aci epted the bill
because it contained the elements of all the Irish farmer had
a right to demand, and because, by dissipating a long-stand-
big delusion, it would turn the attention of the Irish people
to that which alone would bring them prosperity—the asser-
tion of their own nationality.
. . . . . .

Mr. Samuelson regarded the bill as an important Improve-
ment in our land laws, though he found fault with some of
its details, aud argued generally In favour of peasant pro-
prietors ; and Mr. C. S. Read was of opinion that the bill
would givethe Irish tenant all that was justly hie due.
The igD,•nrightie, professing himself a member of the ex-
treme Tenant Right party, malutzdtied that they held the
righil of °weer' to be as sacred as the rights of occupiers,
but they insisted that those rights could only be exercised
under eertain tastrictions. The bill recognized those re-
etrictlons, and, to a certain extent, attempted to put teem
In force. He passed its principal clauses In review, and
eulogized it on the whole as an honest bill, which would con-
ter many be•efits on the tenant, and would for the future
prevent ejections, except for such cause as all the world
would acknowledge to be Inst.
Mr. Henley, examining the bill in detail, thought the ope-
rations of the bill would be attended with Interminable con-
fusion, and it ought to be entitled a bill for the promotion
of litigation, and to extinguish small holding."
The Solicitor-General for Ireland corrected the lerroneons
Impression that the English common law prevailed n Ireland.
It had only been transferred there in letter, but not in spirit,
and it had been altered by numerous Irish statutes, lie exa-
mined at length the state of the law of landlord and tenant
in Ireland, showing how harshly It pressed on the tenant;
and though the I, UM landlords as a body had not slimed their
powers, there had been grievous cases of oppression and
hijury, which he narrated. The mere pouillnlity that suf h
things could occur led to a feeling of Insecurity, the
Ultimate results of which were agrarian crime and • rancor-
-005 feeling of hostility among the emigrants who were
driven away from their own country. Mr. Dowse then
passed rapidly through the various clauses of the bill,
expounding the scope and intent ofleach, and replyingito
Ike objectftns urged against them.

On the motion of Colonel Wilson Patten, the debate was
again adjourned.
The House was afterwards for some time In Committee of
Supply on a Supplemental Civil Service Estimate. Several
of the Items, such as a further vote for the Paris Exhibition,
the erpenets of conveying diringatilted persons from Lover
to Calais, ke , vrtre sharply criticized, but ultimately the
vote was agreed to, and the House atlYmnied.

In the House of Commons, March 9, the following bills
were read a second time :—Ellesinere and Glyn Valley Rail.
way Bill. Newcastle and I.:At:ahead Water, and North
Metropolitan 'tramways Bill, alai the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Improvement hill.
Mr. M.Laren, in moving the second reading of the Church
hates , acotland) hill, urged that the asseassuent for the pur-
pose of the Established i'tinrch in Scotland was felt to be a
great grievance. The hill Ilia not abolish the rate. but acted
on the same principle at the English Church Rate Bill, by
abolishing all legal process for the rate; thus mating its pay-
roost voluntary soli compulsory.
Mr. Gordon opposeil tile second reading, on the ground
that there wag no stich thing as a church rate hi Scotlmd.
Ile moved that the bill be read a a,cond time this day six

or airlies seconded the amendment.
Mr. Carnegie supported the second reading of the bill.
Lord John Manners, as a dissenter from the Scotch
Established Church, expressed his opinion that members of
Um Episcopalian Church in Scotland, did not object to the
payment of the assessed rate.
Mr. Graham supported the bill and
Sir E. Colebrooko urged that there was not snfficlent in-
formation before the House upon which to legislate, lie
thought the matter should be referred to a select committee.
Mr. Candlish, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Cranford supported the
bill; and it was opposed by Mr. Maxwell, and Sir St. An-
struther.

The Lord Advocate aaid that there was no question before
the House connected with the disestabltahment or disen-
downient of the Church or Scotland ; but the bill would, if
carried out, disendow that Church to a very considerable ex-
tent. The stipend given to the minister would be wholly In-
sufficient unless it were for the house and glebe; but the
bill proposed to take away both of these. To deprive the
elerproan of his manse or glebe would simply be disturbing
the evidence of the coat of the Eitablished Church from one
direction to another. the Act provided that the clergyman
should be provided with a manse mid glebe by the heritors
of land; and the assessment was a tax upon the land In
Scotland the churches were the property ot the heritors. Ile
did not know In whose Interest the bill had been introduced.
With very few exceptions the burden was borne by the land-
owners. The greater landed proprietors of Scotland would
be amazed when they found who they had got for their
chatn:lon. The landowners did not think this matter to be
a grievance, any, there was no resemblance between it and
the case of church rates In England. The existing law was
to hia mind unsatisfactory in one respect, and if a bill were
introduced to remedy the grievances of the exceptional cases,
he should be most happy to support ii; but he could not vote
for the bill now before the House.
Mr. W Laren having replied,
The House divided :—For the second reading, 108; against,
225 majority against, 117. The lull was consequently
thrown out.

Mr. Goldney proposed the second reading of the Coroners'
Bill, which, after a taw words from Mr. %ladle, was passed.
Mr. Muntz moved the second reading of the Adulteration
of Food or Drink Act (16o) Amendment Bill, which he said
was essentially • poor man's bill.
Mr. Bruce suggested that It should be postponed ; and
this was sgreed to.

The Nlo'rt'eagee .Ne. 2) LIU was read a second time, and
the Itoute adjourned.