The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, MAY 30, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3095, 30 May 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, MAY 30, 1881.

The long and eloquent speech with which Mr Gladstone introduced the Irish Land Bill concluded with the words " Jus: ice is to be the principal guide of England in regard to Ireland," and the bill itself is a guarantee that the principle expressed in that phrase actuates the men who at present govern England, and is a further guarantee that these men will do their utmost to promote legislation calculated to dispel the cloud of anarchy which has brooded over Ireland for so iong a period. The most important feature of the bill is the establishment of a court to regulate the question of rents. The tenant will be able to apply to the court to decide what is a fair rent, and to fix that rent for a period of fifteen years, during which there can be no change, and no eviction, except for the breach of certain provisions laid down. The court will also deal with matters of assignment and tenure. The resort to the court for the settlement of such matters will, of course be optional, but when appealed to it's decisions will be final. Tbe court will consist of three persons who will sit in Dublin, but they will have the power of appointing extra commissioners when nececessary. In addition to the establishment of this court the bill provides that tenants shall be paid compensation for all improvements, and that limited owners Bhall have the same power as absolute owners. It is proposed also to assist tenants to purchase their holdings, and to give the court power to purchase lands from landlords desirous to sell, and resell them, retaining the title as a guarantee for the payment and against subdivision. The court will also have the power to make advances to tenants and others to enable them to reclaim and make other improvements, on condition that the advances do not exceed the amounts laid i

out by the borrower on his own behalf. It is also proposed to give the court the pnwer to give purebssing tenants a parlimentary title at a fixed rate to save the expense of sale aud transfer under the ordinary law. Provision is also made for advauces to assist emigration. The advances for all purposes cm be repaid by an annual payment of £5 on every £100 advanced. Care has also befcn taken that the Act shall not be made almost a dead letter, as was the cafe of the Land Bill of 1870, by a custom, which was indulged in by the Duke of Leinster and many other large landed proprietors iv Ireland of forcing their tenants to contract outside the provisions of the Act, and so placing iLetn entirely at the mercy of their landlords. It is provided that power to control outside the provisions of the Act shall only exist when the yearly rental is £200 and over. Every feature in this bill shows the desire on the part of its framers to pass a thoroughly large and liberal measure, quite regardless of the traditions relating to the purchase and sale of land still existing in England. That the great rhaes of the people in England will be willing to do this measure of justice to Ireland cannot be doubted. Ihe people of England never have had any desire to deal unjustly with any other people, and it is only now when the people are a potent power in the country that jus'ice can be meted out. Mr Bright ha 3 alluded to Ireland as "a country of many wrongs and many sorrow?, her past lying almost all in shadow, and her present full of anxiety and peril; " but «vith a strong Ministry desiring justice, and with the mass of the people supporting it, a speedy answer may yet be given to the old question "How comes it to pass that the King has never been the richer for Ireland ?"