THE BISHOPS AND THE LAND LEAGUE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 428, 24 June 1881, Page 17

THE BISHOPS AND THE LAND LEAGUE.

The following is the full text of the declaration of the Catholic hierarchy of Ireland on the Land Bill : — We, the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland, having individually and in general meeting given to the Government Land Bill now before Parliament our most careful consideration, deem it our duty to declare that, whilst we recogaise in its leading principles an honest and statesmanlike purpose of settling, on a solid and equitable basis, the relations of landlord and tenant in Ireland, we are convinced that, to effect a permanent and satisfactory settlement of the land question, the following alterations in the details of the bill are necessary : '• 1. That perpetuity of tenure should be granted not alone to all ' present tenants,' as in the bill, but to future tenants also. " 2. That tenants holdine under leases made since the passing of the Land Act of 1870 should have the right to submit them for revision to the court, both a.s to amount of rent and other conditions. •' 3. That the hold^i i of existing leases should, on the expiration of such leases, become entitled to the protection given by the bill to 1 present tenants.' " We are convinced that without the above amendments the Act will not give tenants that sense of security which of all conditions is the most necessary, not only for the peace and contentment, but for the agricultural improvement and general prosperity of the country. Without security of tenure the tenant will give neither labour nor

capital to the soil ; he will remain poor and discontented. On the other hand, a secure tenure, with the other helps provided in the bill, will develop industry and enterprise ; supply lucrative and healthful employment to the youth of Ireland generally as well as to the labouring class ; and will distribute over the country the population now so inconveniently crowded in the poorest and most resonrcelcps portions of the island. " i. That the protection granted by the bill should not be withheld from tenants now owing arrears of rent — a very numerous class — but that the court should be empowered to adjudicate on all such cases of arrears with a view to their equitable adjustment in accordance with the principles of this bill ; and, further, to stay proceedings in evictions for nonpayment of rent on such terms as, under the circumstances of each case, shall seem proper to the court. " 5. That during the statutory term of a tenancy the power of a landlord to resume possession, under the authority of the court, should be strictly limited to cases of public necessity or utility. " 6. That whenever the landlord demands an increase of rent, which is refused by the tenant, the burden of proving that the present rent is not a fair one should be cast upon the landlord. " 7. That the right of fining down rent on terms approved of by the court should be granted, if not to all tenants, at least to those holding from corporate bodies or from absentee landlords. "8. That the grounds set forth in the bill on which a landlord may refuse to admit as tenant the purchaser of a holding — as well as the right of pre-emption conferred on the landlord — interfere seriously with thp tenant's right of free sale. "9. That we consider it to be harsh and inequitable that the mere vesting of a holding in a judgment creditor of the tenant (which may occur without any fault of the tenant beyond the incurring of a debt) should be deemed a breach of the statutory conditions, exposing the tenant to the loss of his holding. " 10. That in cases of eviction, from whatever cause, the same time should be allowed the tenant for the sale of his tenancy as the bill allows when eviction occurs for non-payment of rent. " 11. That tenants of large holdings should have the right, within limits to be approved of by the court, to sell or transfer part of such holdings, whilst retaining the remainder in their own possession ; also to bequeath such holdings in parts to more than one member of their family, or to such others as they may select ; and that in cases of intestacy a sale of the holding shall not be obligatory, if the court deem it better that there should be no sale." We are convinced that the subdivision of extensive holdings, within reasonable limits, will, instead of impeding, largely promote the permanent improvement of land and the general industry of the country ; and we could not but regard as unjust any provision of the Act which would, without necessity, prevent parents from discharging their natural obligations towards their children. " 12. That the advances from the Treasury for purchasing land and fining down perpetuity rents should be more liberal, and that the period for repayment of such loans should be extended to fifty-two years. " 13. That considering the extensive and increasing demand for labour which fixity of tenure, fair rents, the subdivision of large farms and the reclamation of waste lands are sure to create in Ireland, we cannot but regard emigration and every Government scheme, however well intended, that would encourage it, as highly detiimental to Irish interests. " 14. That advances from the Treasury for the reclamation, drainage, and other agricultural improvements of their farms should be made directly to the tenants themselves. " 15. That a comprehensive scheme for the purchase, reclamation and partition of waste lands in Ireland, as well as for arterial drainage, should be added to the Land Bill, and such scheme to be carried out by the Government itself. " 16. Thai no settlement of the land question can be deemed satisfactory or complete without an adequate provision made being thereiu for the improvement of fhe condition of our agricultural labourers. " 17. That the final decision of land cases, with all the other powers vested by the bill in the Land Commission, should not be given to a single commissioner, much leas to an assistant commissioner. " 18. That with a view to conciliate public confidence in the county courts, as land courts and to secure the equitable administration of the Act, two assessors, to be chosen by county electors, should be associated with the county court judge and have co-ordinate jurisdiction with him for the decision of land cases." We need not add that, in common with the whole tenant class of Ireland, we believe that the value of the Act and of the amendments we recommend will very largely, if not entirely, depend on the selection of the commissioners, and on the establishment of suitable and permanent rules for the discharge of their duties. f DANIEL M'GETTIGAN, Archbishop of Armagh, Chairman. f EDWARD M'CABE, Archbishop of Dublin. | THOMAS W. OROKE, Archbishop of Casbel. t JOHN M'EVILLY, Coadjutor, Archbishop of Tuam. t WILLIAM DELANEY, Bishop of Cork. •• FRANCIS KELLY, Bishop of Deny. •!• J. P. LEAHY, Bishop of Dromore.l •• JAMES WALSHE, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. •■ LAURENCE GILLOOLY, Bishop of Elphin. •• MICHAEL FLANNERY, Bishop of Killaloe. f PATRICK DORRIAN, Bishop of Down and Connor. f GEORGE BUTLER, Bishop of Limerick. • ■ NICHOLAS CONATY, Bishop of Kilmore. ■• THOMAS NULTY, Bishop of Meath. • JAMES DONNELLY, Bishop of Clogher. ■ JAMES LYNCH, Coadjutor Bishop of Kildare. • PATRICK DUG GAN, Bishop of Clonfert. • HUGH CON WAY, Bishop of Killala. ■ F. J. M'CORMACK, Bishop of Achonry. • JAMES RYAN, Coadjutor Bishop of Killaloe. ■ PATRICK F. MOEAN, Bishop of Osßory.

+ JOHN POWER, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. t JOHN MCCARTHY, Bishop of CloTne. t MICHAEL WARREN, Bishop of Ferns. t WILLIAM FITZGERALD, Bishop of Ross. t DANIEL M'CARTHY, Bishop of Kerry. t BARTHOLOMEW WOODLOCK, Bishop of Ardagh. j MICHAEL LOGUE, Bishop of Raphoe. Dublin, April 26, 1881. The above declaration was sent to Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Forster, and the following replies have been received by his Grace the Most Rev. Dr. M'Gettigan, Archbishop of Armagh :—: — Irish Office, Great Queen's street, S.W., 28th April, 1881. My Lord — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 26th inst., enclosing copies of resolutions passed by the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland on the subject of the Irish Land Bill now before Parliament, and to say that I will lose no time in bringing the same before the Prime Minister and my other colleagues in the Cabinet. — I have the honour to be, my Lord, your most obedient servant, ' W. E. Forster. The Most Rev. D. M'Gettigan, D.D. 11, Downing street, Whitehall. April 29th, 1881. My Lord Archbishop — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, which encloses the resolutions of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland on the Land Bill new under discussion in the House of Commons. I need not say that, together with my colleagues, lam sensible of the weight attaching to any representation on a great Irish question from a body so intimately associated with the history, the feelings, and the interests of the people. lam thankful for the acknowledgement given in this document of the intention with which it admits the measure to have been framed, and I can say without fear that if it be recognised, as it appears to be, by the representatives and by the people of Ireland as a valuable bill, there shall be no reason to complain of any slackness or indecision on the part of the Government in putting it forward until it becomes law. At the same time I must frankly add, after reviewing the list of the numerous and important changes <idvi«ed by the bißhops, that her Majesty's Government — while they will welcome any amendment, from whatever quarter, that may tend to improve the bill — cannot hold out the expectation of their acceding to any changes which would give it a new character. — I have the honour to be, my Lord Archbishop, yonr most obedient and faithful servant, W. E. Gladstone.