IRISH LAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 615, 18 September 1909, Page 5

IRISH LAND.

4 — : MR. BIRRELL'S. UNGRACEFUL RETREATS,] "BOGUS TENANCIES." MINISTERS SHOULD THEIR • FACTS. (Br Teleerspb.—Presn "A"nclntlon.—ConrrlgtiU London, September 16. In tho House of Commons the Irish Land Bill wa« recommitted, and a debate, took place on the clauso which forbids the making i of advances to enable a tenant to purchase ] his holding if tho tonanoy was created after 1 January 1, 1908. ' I The Chief Secretary for Ireland, Mr. Bitrell, moved an amendment to substitute ■ "September 15, 1909," for "January 1, < 1908," thus enabling,advances to bo paid in i tho case of all tenancies created between : tho two dates. ' .. < Nationalists Compel Withdrawal. The Nationalists threatened to abandon the Bill if Mr. Birrell persisted with his amendment. '. . . Mr. Birrell explained that the amendment was in accordance with a promise given to Mr. W. H. Long, the. last Unionist Chief ' Secretary for Ireland. He was under tlie impresßion that Mr. Long's suggestion - would affect only a fow cases, and perhaps ho made the promise too hastily. At' any • rate, if a largo amount of, , business had been going on in bogus tenancies during l ho period involved, he was ready to consider tho position. . '. ' ■ Finally/Mr. Birrell asked leave to .withdraw the amendment. ■, • . •■'.'■■ Frightened With False Fire. Mr. G. Wyndham (who. was ,■ Unionist Chief Secretary for Ireland before. Mr. Long, and" author of the Land Purchase Bill, the operations of which aro being extended by tho present Bill) aekod if itwas likely that many new tenancies had been created in Ireland in eighteen months. There were cries' of "Yes" from tho. 1 Nationalist benches. \ t , Mr. Wyndbam: It •is all:. a delusion, and , ' the'Chief-Secretary took fright with false 1 fire. , : . .- ■■■••' Mr. Birrell: How many do you think there ', aro? .■ ....■'■ ■•-■ \- . ■ x ! •■' Mr. Wyndham: The Chief Secretary should ascertain the facts.before putting down an amendment.- \ , Mr> J. H. M. Campbell, Conservative member for' Dublin University, commenting on Mr. Birrcll's surrender, predicted that Mr. Birrell would never touch lower depths *of humiliation. - The amendment was'nogatived by. 197.t0 30. ITHROUGH COMMITTEE. ' ! ■ ~ : . (Rcc. September ,17, 10.50 p.m.) .■'■ ■ '. ' .'■■.-*: London,, September 17/.' The Irish Land Bill has passed the report stage in the House of Commons. ; ,