IRISH LAND BILL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 12

IRISH LAND BILL

DETAILS OF ITS PROVISIONS. (Per R.M.S. Ventura at Auckland.) SAN FRANCISCO, April 2. A message from London, dated March! 25th, says:—Mr Wyndham, Chief Secretary for Ireland, introduced tho Government’s long-anticipated Irish Land Bill in the House of Commons to-day. It proposes a free grant of 60,000,000 dollars for the purposes of the Bill. The keen interest felt in this new legislation —which it is hoped will promote peace and contentment in Ireland —was shown Lv the crowded House. The Peers' gallery and distinguished strangers’ gallery were filled, and there has been no such gathering of members of Parliament since tho opening of the session. Mr Michael Davitt, father of the Land League, celebrated his 57th birthday ny re-entering the House for the first time since lie ceased to be a member in order to hear the Chief Secretary for Ireland unfold his plans. Mr Wyndham said that in view of tne sticng recommendation of the recent Land Conference, the Government nad provided that the landlords might make their own arrangements with tenants if they tallied with the policy of the present Bill, which, instead of expatriating landlords as stated in some quarters, would, he hoped, enable them to remain in tho country. The Government thought the period for repayment of all loans should bo sixty-eight and a half years. There were strenuous provisions against subdividing mortgages on holdings. In conclusion, Mr Wyndham said he was ;ro landlords and tenants would continue to act in tho reasonable spirit which actuated the conference. There were two alternatives before the country. They could prolong for another 150 years the present tragedy in Ireland, or they could now initiate and thenceforth prosecute a business transaction occupying some fifteen years based on the self-esteem, probity and mutual goodwill of all concerned. Mr John Redmond followed Mr Wyndlu.m. Everybody, he said, would admit that the tone and temper of the secretary’s speech showed that lie realised me gravity of the situation in Ireland, and that lie was anxious to sincerely attempt to grapple with it. Mr Redmond deprecated a hasty judgment of Mr Wyndhiim’s proposals, either for or against them. No ono could question that me proposals were an enormous advance upon those of last year, or that they really aimed at a settlement of the question, but ho took exception to the Commissioners, especially to Mr Wrench. If the Irish people concluded that the Bill offered reasonable hope of settlement, it would bo accepted by them. Opinions expressed in the lobby of the House of Commons were generally favourable to tho Bill, and pointed to the probability of its being accepted in principle by all parties. It produced a % feeling of intense satisfaction. Mr John Redmond, tho Duko of Abercorn and Lord Runravcn all agreed in saying tnat Mr Wyndham had made a genuine effort to settle Ireland’s troubles on the lines of the Dublin conference. They pointed cut. however, that many of the details must be minutclv discussed, and perhaps altered, before the Bill is accepted. The text of the Bill occupied thirtynine pages of Parliamentary paper, and hi isties with iicciiiucaiities. The full wording reveals many important features wnicii were not mentioned in Mr Wyndham’s speech when the Bill was introduced. All arrears of rent due at the time of purenase of land are recoverable by the Land Commission, and i:Cu arrears for a year only. The Land Commissioners, however, are given power in special cases to remit part or all of 1 lie arrears. The Commissioners are not permitted to purchase estates which are not mainly agricultural or pastoral. Thus Killarney is exempt under this clause. In cases of untenanted estates purchased by the Commissioners, they are empowered to execute necessary w< rks of improvement which tremendously enlarges tho scope of expenditure. The Commissioners are empowered to declare sub-tenants to be tenants of any holding. This will vastly benefit hundreds. Fishing, shooting and mineral rights, which are among the mart controversa! difficulties will he vested in the Commissioners when an estate is purchased and can bo disposed of as ihe Commissioners decide. The Commissioners are also empowered to determine boundary and other disputes between the proprietors of holdings, (fhe Commission lias first claim to tho purchase of bankrupt estates, and can resell such estates to the tenants, or use portions of them for the repatriation of evicted tenants. The latter part is regarded as being one of the most vital features of the Bill.