THE IRISH QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7622, 27 April 1886, Page 5

THE IRISH QUESTION.

[FROM TUB MELBOURNE AUE.] London, April 18. In explaining the principles of the Irish Land Purchase Bill in the House of Commons on Friday evening, Mr. Gladstone stated that the rentals at present paid by tenants would, after the purchase of the land by the Crown, be reduced on an average by 20 per cent. Tenants, after 49 years' occupancy, will acquire the ownership of the land, except in "congested" districts, where the State will retain the ownership. The price to be paid to the landlords for the estates to be purchased by the State will be fixed by a land commission, but the maximum price will be limited to twenty-two years' purchase, on the basis of the rent received for last yeai;. No minimum has been fixed. Mr. Chamberlain, criticising the scheme, expressed the opinion that £50,000,000 would not be sufficient for the purposes of the Bill. He condemned t.'lic proposal that a British guarantee should lie given for the payment of the money in the uhupe of console. Mr. Parnell coldly approved of the pro* visions of the Bill. The differences between Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Chamberlain are lees marked now than at the time Mr. Chamberlain retired from the Cabinet, and it is considered possible that a reconciliation may be effected. Mr. Gladstone, in view of the doubt which at present exists as to whether the Bill embodying the polioy of the Government will be accepted by the House of Commons, has determined to address his constituents throughout Midlothian, with the object of enlisting popular sympathy for the measure. It is stated that the Government have decided upon such a considerable modification of the scheme for the purchase of estates from the present landlords that the expenditure involved in connection with this new feature of the Irish polioy will not exceed half the amount of the original estimate,