The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-16 00:00:00

THE IRISH LAND LAW BILL.

The adjourned debate on the Irish Land Bill was
resumed by
Mr. Dillon, who replying to an appeal from Mr.
Chamberlain, avowed that with the exception of the
first clause he regarded the bill with contempt, and
that the grace of whatever concession it attempted to
make was destroyed by the manner of making it.
But he insisted that after Mr. Chamberlain's speech
the Government should say whether the House was
discussing their bill or Mr. Chamberlain's. And the
right hon. member was also bound to say whether he
was merely talking for effect, or whether be would take
steps to compel the Government to accept his amend-
ments. Discussing Mr. Chamberlain's coeclusions, he
accused him of extraordinary ignorance of egriculturel
conditions in assuming that a reduction of 20 per cent.
of rent would meet the difficulty, and, quoting from
the elowper Commission report, he asterted that the
bill did nothing whatever for the tenant outside ene
or two clauses. Dealing categorically with the leading
details of the bill he condemned them in severe lan-
guage. He protested against the eviction and bank-
ruptcy elaueeef which he said the Irish members would
most strenutsgsly oppose.
Mr. T. W. Russell, who discussed the provisions of
the bill seriatim, declined to recognise in it a final
settlement of the Irish land question. He was wiilin
however, to accept it as a temporary measure of relief,
but urged the Government to accept such amendments
as would give satisfaction to the tenants. He objected
to the leaseholders' clause as being defective both in
principle and in structure. The provision which re.
quires the leaseholder to be in bone fide occupation of
his holding before he can obtain the relief given by the
bill was unnecessary and would act prejudicially to the
tenant, who, he also contended, ought not to be com-
pelled to go into court. But be gave a qualified
approval to the clauses dealing with evictions, recom-
mending that power shall be given to the county court
judge to arrest a writ of fi. fa. as well as a writ for
ejectment. Although the bankruptcy clauses he con-
demned with much emphasis, while urging the Governs
meet to accept reasonable amendments, he charac-
terised the amendment of Mr. Campbell-Bannerm.sn as
hollow and insincere.
The Attorney-General for Ireland insis'ed that the
measure afforded the strongest evidence that the
Government were earnestly desirous of alleviating the
condition of the tenants, and in the course of a de-
tailed exposition of the bill recognised the necessity of
establishing a strong and efficient Court ot Appeal.
Answering the objections of Mr. Campbell-Bannerman,
be admitted the possibility of landlords getting pos.
sesion of their lands by writ of "fledi facies," but
pointed out the difficulties in the way, and conteneed
that landlords mould rarely adopt this ccurse in pre-
ferer ce to the statutory remedy of ejectment. As to
the bankruptcy clauses, he explained that it would ha
optional with the tenants whether they availed them-
selves of them or not, and in conclusion be remarked
that the bill had not for its object a recenstruction of
the Land Act of 1881, but was intended to meet a real
and pressing difficulty.
Mr. Mahony spoke in support of the amendment,
and complained that the Attorney-General for Ireland
had given no information as to the intentions of the
Government.
Mr. Elton, who criticized the bill with much detail,
contended that its benefits could be obtained by 'manta
without the bankruptcy clausee, and, in answer to Mr.
Chamberlain's suggestion that losses caused by depree
cietion in the value of land should be divided among
all persons interested in it, maintained that it would be
inconvenient, and that it was unnecessary to include
such a provision in a bill which was only inten 'ed as a
temporary measure of relief.
Mr. Shaw-Lefevre commented on the adverse criti•
cisme passed on the bill by Mr. Chamberlain and Mr.
T. Russell, and complained that the Government had