THE IRISH BOUNDARIES COMMISSIONERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 43, 13 February 1885, Page 25

THE IRISH BOUNDARIES COMMISSIONERS.

Mr. Sexton, M.P., has addressed the following letter to Mr. Gladstone :—: — London, Dec. 11, 1884. Sir, — You are probably aware that the following question stood in my same on the order paper of the House of Commons to bo addressed to you on Saturday last : — "To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has considered that the work of arranging the new electoral areas provided for by the. Seats Bill, a work which in England and Scotland is confided to commissions principally composed of eminent civilians, well known to the general public, will in Ireland fall into the hands of a Government department composed of three military officers quartered on a barrack in Phoenix Park, and acting in connection with another Government department composed of one commissioner only, who has for his official solicitor Mr. George Bolton ; whether there will be associated in the work of re-arrangement of electoral areas in Ireland any gentleman possessing the confidence of the Irish people and of the party in this House not represented in tne negotiations which led up to the introductioa of the Seats Bill ; whether the definition of the duties to be performed in England (contaiaed in the letter of the 28th ult. from the President of the Local Government Board to the Secretary of State) are intended also to be applied to Ireland ; and- whether in Ireland public sittings will be notified and held for the reception of evidence as to the most just and expedient re-arrangement of electoral areas in that country." I would have addressed this question, to you on Saturday had the usual opportunity been allowed. But a motion by Lord Richard Grosvenor for the adjournment of the House, and a " count " at the instance of a supporter of the Government brought the sitting to an end before the question on the paper could be reached. Thereupon I caused my query to be set down for the day on which the House resumes its sittings ; and I should not venture now to trouble you but for an intimation given to me by the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant that he had not expected the motion for adjournment of the House, and had made preparation to reply to the questions intended to be addressed to him. The right hon. gentleaaan has since forwarded to me some written answers, and from these circumstances I am led to the surmise that, like the Chief Secretary, you may not have anticipated the motion for adjournment, and may have been ready and desirous to answer in due course the questions addressed to you and set down in the paper for the day. Indeed, the Daily Neivs of yesterday announced—not accurately, but, nevertheless, apparently by authority— that written replies had been already sent by Ministers to all the questions set down for Saturday last by members of the Irish party. You informed the House of Commors on the Ist inst. in your speeches on the introduction of the bill, that the result of the labours of the English Commission would be "brought under the direct judgment of the House." In the same speech it is laid down, " That confidence in the commission is a very important matter " ; and on the 4th inst., in reply to Mr. Obaplin, who asked whether the report and recommendation of the Boundary Commissioners were to be open to any modification by the House of Commons, you said, " It is obvious that great confidence ought to be placed in 'the report of such a commission. I am willing to suppose that they (the commissioners) will not give satisfaction to the House." These words . w«re evidently dictated by the hope that when the proposals of the commissioners are brought under the direct judgment of the House that judgment may be a ratification by general assent. But I venture to think it is obvious even now that so far as concerns Ireland such a hope cannot in any degree be realised unless due regard is had to the opinion of the Irish people at large in fixing the constitution and determining the procedure of the commission appointed for their country.