The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-08 00:00:00

THE IRISH LAND BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. BRYAN rose and said, in moving the amendment of
which he had given notice, he could not disguise from
himself that he was incurring a grave responsibility in
asking the House to reject this bill in its present stage
without giving to hon. members in committee an oppor-
tunity to amend it so as to meet the wishes of
th Irish constituencies. At the same time an
almost universal feeling on behalf of that
country was entertained that the bill would fail in its
object uuless the Government were prepared to receive
an amendment of so serious a nature as almost to alter
the principles of their bill. There could be no doubt
tsat in many parts of Ireland at this moment there was
no safety either for life or limb. (Cheers from the Op-
position.) If Her Majesty's Government would define a
tenant right, and found it upon the ancient Ulster
custom, as laid down by a very eminent legal
authority—he alluded to Mr. Butt—(laughter)—then
something might be done. The time had passed when the
Irish land question could be settled by a 31 years' lease.
No bill could be satisfactory which did not do away with

the power of the law of distress. (Hear, hear.) As it
now stood, the Government measure did not fulfil the
aspirations of the Irish nation. It certainly would not
satisfy the country. If it passed into law, litigation
would be perpetuated between two classes of the country
who had ever been at war with each other. Therefore he
moved that the bill be read a second time that day six

months.
Captain WHITE seconded the amendment. He dis-
claimed any ulterior motives in the course he was pur-
suing. He knew it was generally thought he held extreme
views upon Ireland. He might as well state at once that
in his opinion nothing would satisfy the people of Ireland
save sweeping legislation. (Hear, hear.) No man
could feel more deeply personally interested than
he in the Irish land question, for every item
of his income was derivable from the Irish soil.
He felt that the bill would go step by step and clause by
clause, but on the the third reading he should find many
of those who now supported the measure in the same lobby
as himself and his hon. friend who had moved the
rejection of the bill There were great numbers
of persons who complained that it was an arbitrary and
unjust thing that in the Court of Arbitration, when the
tenant, perhaps, was just getting the best of, the matter,
a landlord might step in and put a stop to the whole
proceeding by the offer of a thirty-one years'
lease. They objected to that, as it was
thought by many, that that arrangement did not give
stability or safety to the tenant. It did not place a barrier
against arbitrary eviction—(hear, hear)—it did not give
stability of tenure, and until that was done there
would be neither peace nor contentment in
Ireland. It was expected that there would
have been in the bill of the Government a proposition to
give a fixity of tenure at a fair rent, but in this they had
been disappointed. Fixity of tenure pure and simple
would be at once admitted to be unjust, and it had
never been asked, for it had always been accepted
with some such proposition, as eviction for the
nonpayment of rent or sub-letting. (Hear, hear.) He
regretted that it had become necessary for him to sever
himself from a party whom he had supported to the
best of his ability, but the proposition of the Government
he looked upon with so much fear and distrust that
he felt it his duty to second the motion for the rejection of
the bill
Mr. 0. R. DEASE said it would not be until there was
free trade in land that peace and prosperity would come to
Ireland. The measure of the Government was, in his
opinion, a good measure, and he should give it his humble
but unhesitating support.
Sir HERVEY BRUCE supported the secona reading of the
bill. At the same time he could not help saying that
the Premier in introducing the measure had made
use of language which was not calculated to appease Ire-
land. He denied that the value of labour was decreasing
in Ireland, as alleged by the right hon. gentleman at the
head of the Government. The measure of the Govern-
ment was certainly a comprehensive measure—in many
respects it was a good measure, but in more
respects was it a bad measure, and it was in
the hope that such as it was it might be
amended in committee that he gave it his sup-
port. He objected to a tenant right in his own case,
where his steward had injured rather than improved the
farm which he had occupied now for some years. The
arbitration courts would certainly not be attended
with the good feeling which was claimed for
them. The bill put the landlord still further
under the power of the tenant, who in many cases charged
quadruple the amount he had to pay his landlord. As to
the grand jury cess, the bill would place large landowners
under much worse conditions thanthey had hitherto found
themselves. He could see no machinery by which ailand-
:ord, with encumbrances on his property, could cell in
detail to his tenants. That was a serious omission
from the bill. A 31 years' lease he looked upon
as a delusion and a snare. The hen. member for Tippe-
rary was well aware that what he wanted would never be
granted. (A laugh.) A happier day would dawn upon
I the country if the bill in a modified and improved shape
'

vindication of the Government scheme of compensation with
special reference to the legality of Ulster tenant-right cus-
tom, the working of which in the district he highly eulo-
gised, and bpi, fly summed up tho whole of the clauses. In
conclusion, as an Irish landlord, he was himself prepared to
accept-the bill, although ho knew it would limit his power,
but only when it might be improperly exercised.
Dr. BALL thought that both the objections and the advan-
vantages lobe derived from the measure were greatly ex:lg-
.4,-rated. In his opinion its influence, politic: Ty, would be
,xceeclingly small, while in its provi,ions it grievously erred
bah iu an economical and legal point of view. He expressed
uis opinion that the advantages which would accrue by the
loan of pul,lic moneys for the purchase of fee-simple tenures
was vc ry doubtful.
On the mot'on of Mr. tlActinE the debate was adjourned
ttutil this evening.

The report of Supply was brouzht up and agreed to.
PI ho Tramways Bill wat read a second time, together with
be Stamp Duties on Leases Bill.
The Judges Jurisdiction Bill was read a socond time.
The House shortly afterwards adjourn••d. -