The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PA RLIA Ai EN T.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY.
The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock, at which hour there was a full attendance of
Peers.

The Union of Benefices Bill, introduced by the Bishop
of Oxford, the object of which was to give parishioners in
places where the church was pulled down full rights in
the common church that might be appropriated to the
united
parishes, was read a second time.
The Benefices Resignation Bill, the object of which was
to extend to the beneficed clergy the provisions, of an act
passed with regard to the retirement of bishops, was also
read a second time.

THE IRISH LAND BILL
Earl GRANVILLE then rose to move the second reading of
this bill, and commenced by referring to the difficulty of
the task which had devolved upon him. He said that it
had been admitted on all hands that there was great ne-
cessity for legislationon the subject, because the anomalies
that existed produced the greatest ill-feeling between the
landlord and the tenant. It was also desirable that some
improvement should be made in the law with respect to
land in Ireland, because it differed both in spirit and
in letter from that in England. He was quite aware that
the tenants in Ireland had grieva.nces,but so had the land-
lords; and with respect to the improvements that were
Made it was most desirable that as the tenants mostly
made them in Ireland they should be secured of receiving
all the benefits they were entitled to. The noble earl then
gave an outline of the attempts that had been made to
deal With the land question in Ireland during the last 35
Years, and then went on to observe that the Government
after they had felt it their duty to deal with the subject
had taken up the matter with a determination to act with
Strict justice between landlord and tenant, and the pro-
visions of the bill he believed would be to carry out that
intention to the utmost. The bill applied almost ex-
clusively to agricultural and pastural holdings in Ireland.
44
Primary object was to give the tenant, on being re-
Moved by the landlord, compensation on quitting his hold-
ing for disturbance. The bill also gave to the tenant on
quitting his holding, whether compulsory or not, com-
pensation for improvements. In the province of Ulster
and other parts of Ireland where customs prevailed the tenant
I'4'4 Permitted, not compelled, to claim under that cus-
rm, but if he did so his claim to any other compensa-
tion was debarred. When a claim was made, not under
a Custom, the compensation was assessed according to a
scale, the scale bearing an inverse proportion to the value
o'` the holding. In every case where an application was
Made for the interference of the court, the court would
#Cause to be considered the equitable and moral aspect of
case, and would make its award according to the wish
of the landlord and the tenant. The tenant could not be
evicted from the holding until the compensation was paid,
and security given for it by lodging the amount in
eTirt; but in the event of the tenant being in arrears with
'is landlord, or having been guilty of a breach of cove-
:ll°4, the circumstance was to be taken into consideration
41, the award. In addition, every tenant, in the absence
(4 an agreement to the contrary, on quitting was to be
entitled to the growing crops or their money value. The
above enactments were the pith of the bill, but he need
hardly say there were many other minor details. With
regard to • the sale of land, provision was made that
t,11: landlord might sell to the tenant, free of
encumbrance, the tenant being required to
"Posit one-third of the purchase-money, on being enabled
borrow the remainder from the public sources, repay-
ing, the sum borrowed by an annuity extending over 35
Le al's. The bill was founded on the assumption that the
Feat bulk of the tenantry were not competent to protect
themselves, and the Government seeing the evils of the
Present system had tried to remedy them with as little
disturbance and change as possible, by falling back upon
the customs which existed in the country, and the prac-
Hi4,,ce,B of good landlords, who were distributed all over
eland. He was not aware of all the objections that
could be made to the bill, but he knew the sincere desire
of its framers was to produce more friendly relations, and
a better state of things than at present existed in that
ei°lllltrY,andito lead to increased prosperity throughout the
'Length and breadth of Ireland.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that within two years Par-
"araent had been asked to legislate for Ireland, and the
nnlY reason given was that an exceptional state of things
existed in that country ; but with regard to the course he
blight feel it his duty to follow with regard to the propo-
sitions contained in the bill, he wished it to be clearly un-
ueratood that he guarded himself against its being sup.
Posed that he admitted that any of the provisions of the
rue
It rire could be applied either to
as England or Scotland.
desirable to know whether there was any necessity
for
exceptional legislation, whether the bill met the evils
e°lllPlained of ; also, whether the proposed measure did
not
go further than was necesary. There might be, he
fully admitted, isolated instances of oppression, but he
denied as a general rule that the Irish tenants were in-
competent to make bargains with the landlords or to pro-
tect their own interests. He could not admit that the
Irish landlords treated their tenants with harshness, but
he must say that the operations of the Encumbered Estates
Act had brought about a peculiar state of things that ren-
dered some legislation at all events necessary. The nobleduke
then proceeded to refer to the different clauses of the bill,
Clause 3 would call forth much consideration, but with
regard to clause 5 he looked upon that as a direct inter-
ference with the rights of property. After the fullest
consideration he had come to the conclusion that he ought
to support the motion for the second reading, because in
the event of the rejection of the measure they would be
called upon again to consider the matter in another form,
and perhaps, though he hardly thought it possible, worse
than the present. He should go into committee with a
full desire to amend the bill, and also with a strong deter-
mination not to upset the cardinal points of the bill.
Earl RUSSELL expressed his approval of the measure, as
he looked upon it as the only bill ever submitted to Par-
liament that really met the (evil of which so many com-
plained. He thought it most unjust that a tenant should
be liable to summary eviction at the mere whim of his
landlord without receiving compensation for improve-
ments. Yet, according to the present law in Ireland,
such could be done. He was quite ready to admit that
there were cases in which tenants were fairly treated, but
When a case of oppression took place it produced a general
feeling of insecurity that rendered legislation absolutely
necessary. The Government had undertaken a great duty,
and he did sincerely hope, they would be able successfully
to accomplish the end they had in view. He thought it
Was a wise proposition not to extend the Ulster right to
the whole of Ireland, as in some of the western parts it
could not have been introduced without encountering
great opposition and causing great mischief. By
giving the occupier compensation for improve-
ments actually made they applied the remedy
Where it was really required. The bill had been
so much improved in the House of Commons that he had
thate to the conclusion not to vote for any amendments
might be attempted to be introduced. He enter-
the a sanguine hope that the result of the passing of
parliament
bill would show that the desire of the united British
-rarliament was to do all that was possible to produce
Prosperity in Ireland.
ORANMoRE and BROWNE said he entertained the
zeatest objections to the bill, as it contained principles
at ought 'never to receive the sanction of Parliament.
li_ did not believe it would in the slightest degree put
down agrarian outrage; and further, the bill took away the
pr °PertY of the landlord without giving him compensation,
a
Proceeding which he could describe as nothing short of
411 act of dishonesty. He thought one peculiar fact that
Ought to make their lordships hesitate before passing the
t, ' Was that there had not been one single peti-
tion presented to the other House of Parliament in its
favour, Re believed the measure was opposed to public
OrahtY,
it t`egutY, right, and justice, and therefore he moved that
1 read a second time that day six months.
Lordwo.., PORTSMOUTH supported the bill, as he believed it
fer'ithd Put an end to capricious eviction, and that it would
e future make the Irish tenant both peaceable and
Joyal.
Lord LIFFORD objected to the 'bill as it stood, as he
beheved it would act as a total check to the prosperity of
_Oland, but he did not wish it thrown out, as he hoped it
;4110drcil)e greatly improved in committee.
to re"`-'fl., "uPFEnix strongly urged their lordships not only
the bill a second time, but to pass it without any
tours reel alteration. He-asked the House to adopt that
Government,
not as a follower and subordinate member of the
We_veerlunent, but because the main provisions of the bill
just and equitable, and perfectly consistent with
teued.irights of property, and also because it would conduce
'ne peace and prosperity of Ireland.
The Marquis of SALISBURY said it was very difficult
ccunt him either to approve or condemn the bill now under
r4ort, sideration. He highly approved of the compensation
Prolses for improvement, as he believed they contained
Posals which were not only wise but just. If it was
onl y on
b • the account of those propositions, he could not
ring bill. himselfl to vote against the second reading of the
as
trzidso
,approved of the part of the measure known
Dbjee. Bright 's clauses. Though a small proprietary was
a.
4_ t2onable in an economical point of view, yet that was
th_43411 question as compared with the larger question of
4; h
IP:a gtliaeralepoint of view. It was quite as possible to
as well as a small sense, and his opinion