Evening journal., 1890-03-25
BALFOUR AND HIS BILL.
He Explains the Irish Land
Purchase Measure.
LANDLORDS VERSUS TENANTS.

LANDLORDS VERSUS TENANTS.
The Governments Cure for DeplorabIe
Situation In Ireland introduced in the
House of Commons-Mr. Gladstone Says
the Governments Policy Is Courageous.
LONDON, March 25.-The governments
Irish land purchase bill was introduced in
the house of commons last night by Mr..
Balfour, who explained its provisions The
bill facilitates the transfer Of land and i'm.
proves the methods of purchase, making
them cheaper and more rapid than those
provided by the Ashbourne act Purchase
is made voluntary and there is no risk to the
British taxpayer, although British credit is
utilized. The maximum advance allowed
the buyer is fixed at twenty years rent less
the local rates paid the landlord The total
of advances which may be made under the
bill is e2S, 100000.
BaIfour the Bill.
Mr. Balfour declared that a universal
agreement was a necessity in order to in.
crease the number Of occupying owners in
Ireland, and argued that it was practicable
by reason of land being cheaper in Ireland
than in England. He deprecated the policy
Of excluding landlords from rural social
lifc, saying that in England the landlords
contributed to the well being of those who
were not Landlords
There are now, he said, five bodies for the
valuation and sale of lsnd. This bill pro.
poses to amalgamate them into one. He
haf pVp ~ p,vs bo
suggestion that the introduction of a land
purchase bill was compulsory, except
through the necessity for such measure.
Landlords Versus Tenants.
IL landlords were compelled to sell tenants
ought to be made to buy. The governMent
saw no possibility of instantly transferring
lands from owners to occupiers. Some de-
gree Of British credit could be used TO secure
landlords against loss, though the British
taxpayers should take no risk. The bill en-
couraged the landlord and the tenant to bar
gain as to the price Of holding
IL they failed to agree the question Of
price was referred 10 the land department,
the officials Of which fixed the conditions,
/ aud they must then be complied with. The
land department, Mr. Balfour continued,
might issue vesting order making tenant
the owner of holding free from obligation,
except per cent. per annum on the money
advanced. The per cent. he called the
normal annuity, but the bill required the
tenant to pay during the first Ave years SO
per cent. of the net annual rent Supposing
the rent to DO Rl00, the tenant would pay
ESQ, of which the government proposed to
retain Rl2 as the tenants insurance to meet
the seasons special distress.
A Guarantee Fund.
AS security for purchasers the bill pro.
| posed to take the contributions OF the Brit
| ish exchequer to local Irish purposes and,
as a corolary, make the local county au.
| thorties responsible for any default. The
| bill would thus establish guarantee fund
| consisting Of two portions-oash and con-
tingent. The cash portion would consist OF
| $4,000 yearly, which Ireland had never re.
| eeived, but ought to receive, as a set of
| against England and Scotland getting the
advantage OF licensing duties. Next there
would be probate duty grant assigned for
the future, estimated at 100000 yearly
Next q fourth per cent. on annuitles paya
BILE by tenants
In conclusion, Mr.. Balfour said the schemI
was without a conceivable risk to tho i'm
perial taxpayer.
Gladstone on the Bill.
Mr. Gladstone briefly said the scheme wa
too complicated for discussion at present
He thought. however, that thanks were dul
TO Mr.. Balfour for the pains he had takeI
in preparation Of the bill. He was forced
to admit, he said, that the government haS
followed a courageous policy. The bill wa
then passed TO its FIRST reading.