Morning journal and courier., 1888-11-23
LarnPyRouAsE1n1RKnANn
PaFnelI's Vigorous Speech Against the AshbOurne Land Act, which, how. ever, Passed the Second Reading by a Vote of 299to 224.

ParneII,s Vigorous Speech Against the AshbOurne Land Act, which, hOE- ever, Passed the Second Reading by a Vote of 299tO 224.
 LONDON, Nov. 22.-The debate on the land purchase bill was resumed in the House of Commons tonight by Mr. Parnell. He de- clarede he approved the bill, but he believed it was so designed that under the present circumstances it would be impossible to put it into effective Operation. He had always held that the creation of g peasant proprietary was the only means of serving the land question. His bill simply asked that church tenants be allowed to &C., quire land. That would have created no risk to the imperial exohequer. The con- servstives opposed that proposal, but the time would come when they would find it needful to go further.
 Continuing MT. Parnell declared that the Irish party iD Parliament were eager to set. tie this yexsd question, but the present agi- tation of the government was backed by the landlords, who wanted to dispose of their property at inflated prices. The bill did not contain provisions enabling the state, when supplying money, to decide what tenacies it would be desirable to purchase in the public interest. The government left the landlords to decide. Congested and raok-rsnted es- tates would not be touched under the bill.
 IMPORTANCE OF THE ARREARS.
 Arrears ought to be considered along with rent reductions, otherwise the land purchase arrangements were futile. He would not like to predict that tenants might repudiate the bargains made under the measure, on the ground that advantage had been taken of $hafr I1r,k% tsS VaO$ that large and permanent settlement that was desirable. Any bargain with the farmers ought to have basis that would put repudi- ation out of the question. This was not merely agrarian question. It was knit up with national aspirations. If the government meant we'll to tenants by the bill he implored them to insert suitable provisions dealing with arrears-ths tenants greatest difficulty. Then he could cordially appreciate the meas ure and the legislature weuld reap it's reward in the concilistion of the people. (Cheers.)
 LORD CHURCHILL REPLIES.
 Lord Randolph Churchill said that the as sertfon that the bill was introduced to enable landlords to sell at inflated prices would not bear examination. The PaEnellites did not exist in Ireland, but very much the reverse. Had Mr. Parnell any alternate billa Would he support the principle of MT. Gladstones bill of 1886 (Mr. Parnell here gave negative shake of his head). Then, what other schemea
 Mr. Parnel1-I would accept the bill if the disadvantages connected with 1t were modt- fed by dealing with arrears.
 Lord Randolph, continuing, said he trus- ted that, after the recent speech of the minister's, the arrears question would be brought up in the future. AS financial op- eration the bill was certainly not good enough. The security for advances was totally insufficient, but the risk might be worth mourning when limited to an advance of ten millions which would not be under larger scheme. It would never do to make the state the immediate landlord of the Irish tenantry. The present measure would not apply to more than 25, 900 holdings. It was not likely to be danger to the state, though probably 1t conld not be safely extended. "Hear4 Hearl'0
 The bill passed the second reading by g vote of 299 to 224.
 Sir William Vernon-Harcourt and other Radicals continued the debate, compelling Mr. Smith to carry division by eleture.
 Mir. Parnell has given notice that he will move that the committee on the Ashbourne billbe empowered to instruct the land com missioners to deal with arrears when fixing judicial rents.