The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-06 00:00:00

A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.

Mr. B. OSBORNE drew the attention of the House to a
letter published in the Times, and signed by Mr. Whalley,
the language of which he deemed a breach of the privilege
of that House.

Mr. WHALLEY acknowledged the authorship of the
letter, and maintained that the words he had attributed
to some hon. members were used in the course of the
proceedings in connection with the motion of Mr. New-
degate for the appointment of a select committee on
monastic and conventual institutions. The words used
were "kick him," " strangle him." The hon. member
complained, too, that there was much confusion and up-
roar, and that he could not get a hearing.
The SPEAKER pointed out the importance of deciding
matters of order on the moment. He thought the course
adopted by Mr. Whalley was unbecoming and undignified
in respect to the House. _ _

Dr: BRADY disclaimed, on the part of the Roman
Catholics, the use of such expressions, and the only
Catholic member near Mr. Whftlley was the member for
Perth.

Mr. KINNAIRD said he did not use the words, nor did lit
hear them.
The subject then dropped.
THE IRISH LAND BILL.

The House then went into committee on the Irish Lane
Bill.
Mr. GLADSTONE appealed to Sir John. Gray to postpone
his amendment until a further stage, when it would come
in its proper place. The amendment was to the follow
ing effect :—" Land not subject to Ulster or other usage
may be registered, and thereby placed under the pro
visions of a permissive Parlirmentary tenancy. When

the landlord and tenant of such land cannot agree

as to the rent of such land, the court may deter
mine the proper rent at intervals of fourteen years. The.
tenant of such land may assign his entire interest, but not
sub-let or sub-divide his holding. Such tenant, if about
to ba evicted, may sell his interest in the holding. Any
successor in title of the landlord may purchase it.
Sir JOHN GRAY said if the committee did not take the
present opportunity of discussing the proposition they
would not have a fair chance of doing so at any other time.
The hon. gentleman said the proposition did not emanate
from him, but from the representatives of the land interest
in Ireland. He read a memorial presented to the Govern-
ment signed by thirty-seven Irish members in favour el
the principle.
Mr. W. H. GREGORY thought the amendment was on
of the most important that had been brought before the
Committee. He did not believe that the principle at first
would give universal satisfaction in Ireland. It would
not at first be accepted by a few, but its beneficial
results would be soon perceived, and it would gradu-
ally be adapted and become prevalent.
Mr. GOLDNEY thought that the amendment would give
rise to an interminable discussion if proceeded with at
once. It ought to be brought up as a new clause.
Mr. &NAN expressed his intention to support the
amendment.

Mr. CORRANCE asked Sir John Gray to postpone his new
proposition.
Mr. FORTESCUE said it was impossible that the hon.
member for Kilkenny could get a fair discussion at that
stage. It was not a proviso to the clause, but an alterna-
tive scheme not only to the third clause, but to other im-
portant clauses. On the part of the Government he
promised the hon. member that the committee should
have a fair opportunity for discussion hereafter.
Sir Joint GRAY intimated that he would postpone the
amendment on the understanding that the committee
should have a fair chance of discussing it. The proposal
was made by landed proprietors for the purpose of shewing
that they were ready to come to amicable relations with
the tenants.

Mr. BRUCE moved to insert " except in case of a tenan
who has executed a lease, or an agreement for a lease,
in accordance with any of the leasing provisions of the
Act."

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND urged the hon.
gentleman to withdraw, on the ground that the amend
ment was unnecessary.

Mr. BRUCE, deferring to the opinion of the Solicitor
General, withdrew his amendment.
Dr. BALL moved that line 29, after the word "void," to
insert the following paragraph :—" The Court in award•
ing compensation under this section shall have regard to
the terms and conditions subject to which the tenant
originally obtained possession of his holding, to the period
of actual enjoyment by the tenant to the rate payable
by the tenant during such his period of enjoyment at
proportioned to the fair letting value of the holding, and
to any special circumstances connected either with the
cultivation of the holding or with the mode or incidents
of the termination of the tenure."

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND said it would be
better to discuss the matter raised in the proposed amend-
ment when they arrived at the 14th clause.

After a short discussion, the amendment was with-
drawn.

Mr. D. FORTESCUE moved the insertion of words at the
end of the clause allowing a landlord to resume posses•
sion, without giving compensation, of any portion of land,
providing it be no more than half an acre in extent, given
for the purpose of erecting a school, church, or chapel
thereon, and also to enable him to resume a portion of
land, providing it be not more than one 25th part of the
holding, or for labourers' cottages.
Mr. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE hoped the hon. gentleman
would not press these amendments, as it would be loading
he bill with elaborate arrangements, the more so as the
danger anticipated was quite imaginary, and not likely to
occur.

After some discussion, the amendment was withdrawn
On clause 4, which relates to compensation for im-
provements,
Mr. KAVANAGH moved to omit certain words, with a
view of providing that the enjoyment for a terms of years
by the tenant should be a bar to any claim for compensation
in respect to them. .

Mr: C. FORTESCITE opposed the amendment, which, after
a protracted and very animated discussion, ending in a
strong appeal from Mr. GLADSTONE to the committee to
support the Government, was negatived by a majority of
230 to 134.

After another amendment, moved by Mr. CHAPLIN, had
been negatived, the Chairman reported progress.
In committee on the Beverley and Bridgwater Disfran
chisement Bill,
Mr. COLLINS moved that the disqualification of the parties
reported guilty of bribery should only exist for seven years,
the penalty in the Corrupt Practices Act. The amendment
was negatived.

Mr. PEMBERTON moved to except persons who on being
indicted had been acquitted. After some discussion the
amendment was agreed to, and the bill passed the committee.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the House adjourned.