The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-13 00:00:00

LAND PURCHASE IN IRELAND.

Last week's number of the Stati,l contains the fol-
lowing letter from Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel,
dated, The Palace, Thurles, Jan. 29, addressed to the
editor of that journal: "To the Editor of the StafiA
—You are right in assuming that I approve of the
principle, or main features, of the proposal for the
settlement of the Irish land question which appeared
in a recent issue of the S!a,fi-st over the signature of
'Economist.' The principle, as I take it, substan-
tially is that the interest of existing landlords should
be purchased out, and the land given to tenants,
subject to a rent-charge amounting to considerably
less than the present judicial rents. I am
not financier enough to be able to say
precisely, or nearly so, what sum would
be required to t fleet such a purchase, but
I am strongly inclined to think that the
rental of Ireland, even if calculated on the basis of
judicial rents already settled, would not reach the
high figure, £8,000,000 annually, at which your cor-
respondent 'Economist' appears to estimate it. Six
millions, or seven at farthest, would, in my humble
opinion, come nearer to the mark. Moreover, I am
thoroughly satisfied—and, indeed, have good reason
to know—that judicial rents generally, wicl notably
those that have been fixed for the last two years, are
entirely too high. It is furthermore absolutely cer-
tain that the tenant farmers of Ireland will not be
recommended to accept any scheme under which
landlords would receive anything like 20 years' pur-
chase for their lands. So, considering those points
and others which might be suggested, it appears
to me that a sum considerably less than
£100,000,000 would be sufficient to buy up
the interest of Irish landlords, and that
consequently £4,000,000 annually, amount of local
expenditure from Imperial sources in Ireland, would
amply meet the interest of Consols required for the
purchase. Of course the details of such a proposal
as that set forth by Economist' would require much
careful consideration; but I, for one, would very
gladly accept aay reasonable plan that would put an
end to the system of landlordism that has so long and
FO ruinously existed Li Ireland. At the same time I
should be sorry to see the actual owners of the soil,
however undeserving as a class, put out of possession
without receiving from some source a fair equivalent
for their property. The leaders of Ir4h opinion do
not aim at confiscation. They a--.k only for fair
play, just as in the matter of Home Rule they simply
claim for their countrymen the right of making their
own laws and managing their own affairs, and do not
dream of separation from England, even as a possible
result."

In commenting on the Archbishop's letter, " Econo-
mist " (Mr. Giffen) enters upon explanations. lie
thinks that the "effective rent r to be sold will not be
so much as eight millions, but adds that the sum must
be determined by a variety of weighty considerations.
Twenty years' purchase was only a ougg6stion, on his
part, when he broached his scheme: but "if the Irish
landlords are to be bought out, not upon a nominal,
but upon an effective rent, the number of years' pur
ouolit.to bo li;F,ber thou it, was customary to
give when the nominal rental was the basis of the
calculation." "Economist" does not now think
Ireland should pay the difference between the
annuity due to the landlords and the annual
charge for internal administration, because the
arrangement would not "involve any large concession
by Great Britain." That he proceeds to show by stat-
ing that " at present pays Ireland in taxes more than its
fair share," the total assumed excess, however, being at
present spent in the island. "The expenditure,' he
says, "does not benefit Ireland as it ought to do,
because it is largely waste; but neither does Great
Britain gain." The effect of the proposed scheme
would be that "we should cease to spend £4,000,01
on Ireland, and "burden ourselves in exchange with
a new annuity of £4,800,000 to the Irish landlords."
That, he says, would not be "a large concessicn to
Ireland."