IRISH LAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 595, 25 August 1909, Page 7

IRISH LAND.

THE PURCHASE BILL IN COMMITTEE.

GUILLOTINE AT WORK, THE DRIVEN UNIONISTS PROTEST. lUy Telesraph.-Prßßi AMoclalturi.-Oupjrleiit.l (Rcc. August 24, 9.45 p.m.) London, August 24. In the House of. Commons the Irish Land Purchase Bill is being considered in Committee by a thin House. . Part; I of, the Bjll,, dealing with finance, Was passed in Cbnimitteo in July. Yesterr day' was the fourth day allotted to tho Bill, tho intention being to pass by to-night; by use of the guillotine, Part 11., containing 26 clauses, relating to land purchase itself. Consideration of Part 111., relating to the new Congested Districts Board, will begin to-morrow, a,nd the Committee stage will conclude on. Friday. ~..''■' The Government is strongly criticised 5 for limiting the discussion to eight days, as compared with 33 days allotted to Mr. Gladstone's Irish Land Act of 1881.' Mr. Birrell, Secretary for Ireland, is ■ accused of avoiding effective debate by carefully selecting Fridays for the first three days, and choosing the fourth week in August for the remaining five. .'" ' ~ Clause i 4, on which the debate opened yes< terday, empowered the Commissioners to dispense with tho zones of prices system in connexion with voluntary sales by- enabling th(ijji,- if deemed necessary, to inquire into thirsecurity for the advance and the equity, of the price. Mr. John Dillon. (Nationalist) regretted that the zone system had not bepn abolished altogether. [\\- ; : '/■■ Mr. Wyndham (the Unionist author of the Irish' Land Purchase Act' of 1903) argued that tho clause was a •breach'of the agreement arrived ."at by"the Land Conference, on which the Act of 1903 was founded.

The Nationalists did not deny that they were.parties to that agreement, but declared that experience had caused them to modify their -views. ■ - . A'"

' Another clause', which was sharply debated, enabled' the. Commissioners, after 'satisfying prior claims, to sell land to any person to whom' they think the.purchase money Bhould bo advanced.. \ ■'; ■'■">. '■■■■

" Clauses 14, .15, and 16 were carried' by the application of. the closure at; half-past ■seyeii, and Clauses 17 to 33 were carried three hours later. 1 -. : '. , ■