The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-25 00:00:00

GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

Sir W. VERNER said there were three Bills which
had been postponed from time to time; he wished to
know whether it was the intention of the Government
to proceed with them, and when. They were the Diplo-
matic Relations with the Court of Rome Bill, the Landlord
and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, and the Health of 'lawns
Bill.—(llear, hear )
Lord J. RUSSELL said he would answer that ques-
tion in moving the order of the day for going into Com-
mittee of Supply, when he would state generally the
course that Government intended to pursue with regard
to their measurez.

NON-PAYMENT OF BOOR-RATES IN IRELAND.

Mr. P. SCROPE 'mid it appeared from a recent return
containing the names of lords, ladies, and other landed
proprietors, that there was an arrear of upwards of
8,0001. in the poor-ratea of the Castlebar Union. lle
wished to ask whether that arrear still continued, or
whether it had been materially diminished? also whe-
ther, during its continuance, any portion of the chari-
table funds remitted from London to Ireland, had been
applied for the purpose to which those arrears of rates
ought to hare been devoted.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE, said that no efforts had been
spared by the Poor-law Commissioner: to enforce the
collection of these rates; every legal step hud been taken,
but these law processes were not very speedy. Legal
proceedings were now pending agailiet the delitulteea.
In the meatetime the destitution in the Castlebar
Union had been very great indeed. The number now
receiving out-dour relief was between 17,000 and
18,000, besides about 5,000 who were fed by the bounty
of the British Association. To prevent more dreadful
calamities, the Committee had been induced to use the
hinds placed at their disposal by the British Association
—a eourse which would not be disapproved by those
who knew the intensity of the distress which prevailed.
The last report stated that the amount of arr' ars was
nary 7,969/, but a great prtioa of this, it was ex-
pected, would be ultimately got in, though the passive
resistance of many rate-payers, and the inability of
()there, renlered it a work of time. He hoped his Hon.
Friend and the !louse would have some consideration
for tie enormoue difficulties in which the Commissioners
were placed.
Sir H. VT. BARRON said, the question which had
been asked might create an impression that the land-
lords of the Castlebar Union were wilful defaulters.
Common honesty ought to have prompted the Hon.
Member to add, that in the county of Mayo it was noto-
rious that there were noblemen possessing a yearly
rental of 5,e00/., 10,0001., or 15,0001., who had not,
either last year or the year before, received one-teeth
of their income on en average. Many of the largest
proprietors had been obliged to sell their carriages and
dismiss their servants, and were themselves reduced to
the greatest difficulties, owing to the destitution pre-
Yeetieg around them. Would it not have been fair to
mention these facts, whop a question of this insidious
nature 'was put ? (Hear.) Not a single case similar to
that of the Castleber Union could be produced either in
Leinster, Munster, or Ulster ; tide was nut therefore a
fair way of giving information to the public. He knew
that in Mayo the landlords had paid their rates,
though they had not received anything like the usual
amount of rents. During the last two years they had
made enormous sacrifices to support the poor around
them.. and this was the thanks which they received in
Parliea,ent, to be vilified as a body. He begged to ask
the lion. Socretare for Ireland whether it was in-
tended, under the advice of Lord Devon's Commission,
tocommute leases for lives iu Ireland into holdings for
perpetuity?
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said a Bill had been pre-
pared for that purpose, and he hoped it would be very
speedily introduced into the !louse.—(Bear.)
;Ir. E. B. ROC lIE thought the attack uncalled-for
which had been made on the conduct and character of
the lion. Member for Stroud. The character of no one
stood Iti,.;her for a disinterested advocicy of the cause of
the poor in Ireland.—(Bear.) The question he had
asked was no sweeping attack on the landlords of Ire-
lanq, but simply a reference to documents end returns
which a ere on the table of the Ilouse; and, if there was
any :track in suoh a question, i; was certainly butter
founded than elle defence that had ben of Bred by the
Hon. Baronet (Sir H. W. Barron).
Mr. SCItOPE was not aware that, on this or any
former occasion, he had made any sweeping charge
against the landlords of Ireland. lle had merely drawn
attention to the vast amount of rates which remained
uncollect.d in a certain union.

Sir H. W. BARItON said it ought to have been stated
that not Lady rates but rents were uncollectablo in that
district.

SUGAR AND COFFEE PLANTING.
Lord G. lIENTINCIE requested Mr. Hume to post-
pone the motion of which he had given notice on Tues-
day next, until a later period. He could assure the
House that the Committee on sugar and coffee planting
would have terminated its labours in about a week, and
would then be able to report to the House.
Mr. FUME said he should be reluctant to postpone
the motion for any lengthened period, but as he did not
wish to prejudge the question ; and having the Noble