New-York tribune., 1890-05-02
BALFOUR ON THE LAND BILL.
THE IRISH SECRETARY DISSECTING THE
CRITICISMS OF IT'S ASSAILANTS
ASSERTING THAT no COHERENT OPINION UPON
THE PROPOSALS OF THE ELL EXISTS
AMONG THE OPPOSITION.

|
bill was resumed in the House OF Commons TINS evening
by Mr. Balfour the Chief Secretary for Ireland. He
said he thought IT would be admitted that the attacks
! that had been made on the measure, thongh oich
violent In form. had been hcSitating III substance
| Those who had used the most vigorous "hEuhEc
against the Government proposals seemed TO be the
most hampered by feeling that the bill was III ac-
cOrdance with the best traditions of every party IN the
House. besides the fact that they themselves had been
the supporters of similar plans For instance thcre
was Sir William Vernon lIarcour clear near j.
who had pounded away at the bill wllully oblvions OF
tie fact that he had been party TO measure 'hd'
was open every objection that he urged against tc
present bill. The Opposition criticism was a sham
and nothing clearly showed the diSoreanlzed s'ae
of the opponents Of the Government lhcir Spec'"eS
were mutually destructive. Sir William Vernon liar-
court had told them that the bill would excite te
Jealousy Of non buyers account of the dement's tenant
buyers received. Mr.. Gladstone had declared that 'he
whole of the boon given tenants would be absorbed Dy
the landlords. Sir William Vernon Harc0urt objected
TO the hypohecation of local rates for land purchase
under any circumstances, While Mr' Tarnc" p'>'u
the whole Of his speech on the objection tha' inc 10Y
crnmcnt were taking the one knd oi security "Aii
able for land purchase other opponents objected 10
the state as a landlord. while Mr.. Dillon wanted the
whole Of congcstcd districts compuls0rly bought
the state TO become the landlord.
a coherent opinion upon the proposals OF the hilI
did not exist among the Opposition sad Mf' haIIo"r'
still he believed that many Of their suggestions were
designed TO assist the Government. lie approved MI
Parncrs proposal in favor of hnng down rents pro
vided first that this scheme be distinctly snhordl-
mated to the main scheme for ESTABLISHING peasant
owners. and second. that the tenants where rents are
fined down, be permanent. Mr.. Dnlon'S suggestions
regarding congested districts largely conceded Win
the Governments plans. In regard 10 migration or
emigration. it would rest with the boards III the con
gested districts. with the Government which alter
native should be adopted. The boards wohh ma
migrating families expensive. as they would nave /"
be provided with houses costing under the Lhh"rr'
Act elOO and land Of 500 yearly value at twenty
years purchase involving total Of 600 for
every family. 20 cNchcqucr could bear the
cost Of doing that on large Scalr
He agreed that everything ought 70 be done 70 cum
vate fishing in the West of Ireland Merely to muu
plv the number OF harbors would not eHect the
desired end. Z" Hear. hear The Government pans
ought 10 he judged IN connection with measures passed
or proposed for these districts Cheers Ihe lrlsh
members had been rich projects for dealing with the
propcrtv of landlords. but could they point Ia
single hill really dealing with the vital diMcnlue'
of congested districts (CheerS) They had Wade
many speeches throughout Ireland but had they ever
urged the incxpedency and unwisdom OF early mar
| risges7 {" Hear, hear" and lauGhtcr0 Mr. Dillon
had thrown the whole blame for the large West Coast
population upon the Landlords. Some responsibility
for their having children surely rested on The parents
{" Hear hear and laughter.
Tim Healv nnterrnptngD-Scnd Mrs Bcsant there.
The Speaker Immediately called Mr. Iiealy TO order.
Continuing Mr.. Balfour said that the Parncte' had
refrained from touchihg the evils Of The subdivision
Of land In the West, and had RETAINED from urging
consolidation emigration OF those who could not
earn living at home. Their view wa that
families ought 10 remain no matter
whether they could earn living or not.
A more pernlcious doctrine was never heard. Cheers
The Government dealt with the difficulty Of congestion
In good faith hoping that It, plans would stimulate
industries and improve agriculture. These plans |
should have been met by the Opposition I'm fair |
spirit as an honest attempt % solve great problem
Cheers
Referring TO Mr.. Chambcrlaln's idea that the local
authorities ought 10 be given rcguativc powers over |
contracts under the bill. Mr. Balfour admitted that. u
Ireland was in a normal condition. it would De- dcsra
bic associate County Councils In the great WORK u
which the Imperial Parliament engaged. But wa |
ireland in normal condition Garnclte cheers The
bill had raisOn dctre unless IL 10 effect objects
not merely local, but National. The House ought !
to allow itself to be frustrated in carrying out The
bcneffs Of the by any local authority lhcly
to be Influenced by political reasons. Cheer, and
Parnellitc augtcr.) The local authorize, in many
parts Of Ireland worked much political line a.
the nish members did. II it suited them 10 burke
and misuse the efforts Of the National Govern
mcnt and 10 abuse It's Ibcrality, cOuld they be
depended upon 10 ont the designs Of Parliament
lie hoped and believed the time would como when
a normal condition Of the country would justify anh
ing it over 10 county councils. with power to say
whether great National objects should be carried into
effect. (Checrs The bill had been as,ailcd on the
ground that it committed the British ENchcqucr u
losses under payments, If il did not cvict The
Exchequer would be none the The ljes would
fall entirely the local authorities. 30 the locality
had tire strongest pecuniary interest IN seeing tat
tenants fulfilled their obligations. He did not believe
the bill would tend 10 drive out the Landlords. ON
tie contrary, by diminishing social friction, the
landlords would be induced to live more frequently
in ireland, with greater power, Of u,efnc,,. Deal
ing with the argument, regarding the cndanscrins "i
British credit h. contcndcd that the measure ob'ci
all risks. lie denied the possibility OF general
population. Public op.noI wOuld not support. ana
local interests would not tolerate reputation
In conclusion the speaker urged that the biii
had special merits. 1t provided adequate security
IL provided for poor years and inability
to pay, which might arise 10 the most
thrifty and industrious tenant 1t did something
substantial for the laborng casscs.,. which oiH hH
ties the strongest nduceincnt 10 maintain the ho,e'3 W
of tenants IL ocreG solution Of the prII", , waI 81
a great boon 10 Ireland such she could confer
u apon herself and never could get except from the
rsrty now in power. e. Hear hear Did the oppo-
ston seriously believe better opportunity for carry
ine out policy favorable to land purchase III Ireland
,y6uld ever occur! If they would forget the political
contest and ask themselves whether they Likely
10 10 e ,h Great work which the Government without
party purpose. had taken in hand. Cheers! a.o,,,
Mr. sexton, Nationalist, said he could not credit
the Government Win te impartial feeling; When WHICH
measure II designed 10 enable them to get rid OF
practically unstable land 1t was not solution OF
,hc land probcm. 1t was BETRAYAL Of the country
{" Hear hear. In 1ss6 the electorate distinctly dc
dcd ,a the credit Of the state should not be pledged
,n Inv 0ut the landlords. although the best security
possible was offered. The Government doubtless
ihougIt that they would not get n fresh lease OF
rowrr and must therefore do their best for the land
oris whatever might result. Contrasting Mr. Iarncl,
scheme with the bill he contonded that it was better
,han the Government measure. He warned the
r Cnvernmcnt that the class Of tenants purchasing
nudcr tbe bill would default payment, even without
cnudation the probable result being general strike
,g,inst the eNactiOns Of the local authorities.
Thc rnnd Purchase bill passed the second reading
ly a vote Of $40 to 207'
prRILOUS VOYAGE OF AN EMIGRANT SHIP r
Montreal May 1.-The Beaver Line steamer Lake
Scplron. Captain lierripan. with large number Of
i,.,nis arrived here YESTERDAY nineteen days from