The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-24 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE'S IRISH LAND SOHEME

AND
MR. CHA.MBERLAIN'S POSITION.

On Friday in the House of Commons Mr. Glad-
stone in moving for leave to bring in a bill to make
amended provision for the sale and purchase of land
in Ireland, said the aim and end of all the endeavours
of the Government was not simply the contentment
of the people in Ireland, but was the social order of the
country. In the first place they requested the House
to make arrangements for governing Ireland in Irish
matters by Irish laws, and in the second that it would
undertake not a partial, tentative, and timid treat-
ing of the land question, but a serious endeavour
to settle it. He admitted that he was bound to
answer to the satisfaction of the House the ques •
tions whether that question must be dealt with ;
whether Great Britain must be cumbered with it ;
and whether the English and Scotch people would
run pecuniary risks for the purpose of meeting this
Irish want. Reviewing the history of agrarian crime
in Ireland, he argued that it had been due to causes
most disgraceful to those who were charged with the
government of the country, and that it would be an
ill-intended kindness to any class in Ireland to hand
over to the Irish Legislature the task of dealing with
the question of the land. The obligation on the part
of Great Britain to deal with it had been already
admitted in various Acts, and it was impossible for
us to clear ourselves of responsibility for the land-
lords. They had been our garrison and our repre-
sentatives, and we could not wash our hands of their
doings and the consequences. The scheme which he
proposed would take effect on the same day as the
Irish Government Bill. It empowered the Legislative
body in Dublin to appoint a person or body, called the
State authority, which would act as the medium for
the purchase of the land. Purchases would be made
in 3 per cent. stock, issued at par, on the application
of the Land Commission to the Treasury. The object in
view was to give to all Irish landowners an option of
being bought out on the terms of the Act. As a
general rule, the present occupier would become the
proprietor at once, but there were exceptions in the
case of holdings under £4, and in congested dis-
tricts, where the State authority would become the
landlord, or applications might be made by landlords
desirous of selling their agricultural rented estates up
to March 31, 1890, and would be registered in order
of priority, and the Land Commissioners would, in
certain cases, have power to refuse to entertain an
application. The basis of the transaction would be
20 years' purchase of the net rental after deducting
rates and outgoings, but in exceptional ea=es the
rate might be increased up to a maximum
of 22 years, or reduced below the normal
limit of 20 years. In respect of the notices
issued in the financial year 1887-8, it was
proposed to authorise the issue of £10,000,C00
of stock; in respect of those issued in 1888-9, or car-
ried over from the previous year, the issue of
.£20,000,000 would be ordered, and in respect of
notices for 1889-90 a further £20,000,000, the total
amount authorised being thus £50,000,000. The
powers and resources now possessed by the Treasury
as to purchases in the stock market was ample to
counteract any abnormal depression which might
otherwise be threatened by these issues. The sum of
£50,000,000 would ensure the efficient progress of
the experiment, and if it became largely operative it
was right that Parliament should have the oppor-
tunity of exercising its discretion afresh. If it found
that the promises under which the bill was recom-
mended were fulfilled, that the public credit was
maintained, and that the repayments were duly
made, it would not be reluctant to meet the
further obligations thus imposed upon it. With
regard to the repayments it was proposed to appoint
a Receiver-General under British authority, through
whose hands all the rents and other revenues of Ire-
land must pass before a shilling of them could be
applied to any Irish purpose whatever, and thus that
absolute and t.nimpeachable security for the discharge
of all prior engagements would be given which was
essential to the establishment and maintenance of
Irish credit. Explaining the financial details of the
scheme, the right hon. gentleman pointed out that
the tenants would obtain the benefit of a reduction of
20 per cent. upon their present rentals, and would, at
the end of 49 years, become the absolute owners of
their holdings. The repayments would be a first
charge upon the Irish revenues, and together with the
contribution to the Imperial expenditure, would be
amply secured upon a revenue of £10,850,000.
Mr. Chamberlain, after a further explanation of
the reasons of his retirement from the Government,
observed that since that time great changes had been
made in the Prime Minister's proposals, which had
to some extent lessened his objections to them. He
objected to the original proposal, which involved an
expenditure of £113,000,000, and although the
amount had been reduced to £50,000,000, he stili
considered that the British taxpayer would be involved
in great risk of loss. Moreover, if the present
depression in trade continued—and at present he saw
no prospect of an imprnTe.ment—we might want this
money oureelye3.