THE NEW IRISH LAND BILL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 20, 14 May 1903, Page 29

THE NEW IRISH LAND BILL

Not perhaps since the Conservative Government came into power had the introduction of any parhamentaiy measure excited such widespread interest ab did the. new Irish Land Bill introduced by Mr Wyndham in the House of Commons on March 25. From an early hour in the morning members began to arrive at Westminster m large numbers to secure their places in the Chamber, most ol the early comers, as might be expected, being membcjs ol the Irish Party By noon fully three-fourth of the seats had been thus reserved, and in the lobbies, cou ulois. diid other portions of the House members were to be seen in large n umbers discussing the chances of tho Bill. The public lobby, too, presented an appearance of unwonted animation. The demand for admission to the various galleries had been enormous. All the tickets having been snapped up within a few minutes of the ie~ bult of the members ballot being made known, those who were fortunate enough to secure places assembled early so as to obtain the best seats obtainable. The moment the gallery doors were open there was a big rush for places, and within a minute every seat was filled. Amongst those to be noted among the throng were many people prominent in the political and official life of Ireland, including Mr. Michael Davitt, Lord Dunraven, Lord Mayo, Lord Londonderry, Captain Shawe-Taylor, Sir Anthony MacDonnell, etc. Towards two o'clock, the hour fixed for the meeting of the House, the members began to flock into the Chamber, and when the Speaker took the chair there was not a vacant scat in any part of the building. Mr. John Redmond and Mr. William O'Brien weie heartily cheered by their colleagues on taking their places, while Mr. Wyndham was the recipient of a very cordial reception from all parts of the House. Questions had been purposely limited to a very few, and were got through with unusual despatch, there being a general desire to make way for the Chief Secretary. Mr. Wvndhnm said at the outset that the Government thought that cash aid was necessary, but subsidiary. '1 hey attached more importance to the credit operation in carrying out the scheme The oase which had been made for legislation had become of more importance owing to the load of litigation pressing more heavily than e\er upon tenants and landloids alike. Ho vi god that in the interests of the Emphe Ireland's chief industry should be placed in a stable and prosperous condition. The system of purchase as applied to Irish land had been invariably successful, while the acts which proMded for dual owneislup had been as invariably unsuccessful. The taxpayers of this country were paying £170,000 a year for the Land Commission, and £1, 400.000 a v,ear for the police, who were principally engaged in connection with land troubles Nearly 80,000 tenants had bought already, and The State had ne\er Lost One Penny. The purchaser did his best for the land. If he failed through idleness he was not an object for sympathy Public opinion supported land purchase and the payment of this purchase instalment From the taxpayers point ol \ iew , Kind purchase m li eland was a safe ci edit opeiatmn It was also a sale investment Theie weie 4 ( jo.!>ol holdings ol which s(> per cent were valued at £K> ami inihr, moie than (it) pei cent at £15 and under, and a c .tfe estimate of tho money si/c of the pi oblein is £l,(i(K),0O() vvoith of lent m am given v ear It v. as not possible to go anvthiug like the whole lcntrth of this recommend it ions <,f tho Contererue Report The proposals the (Joncm nment made would provide that purchase shall m future pi oreed by way of the sale of the estate It was hoped the scheme would be complete m 3 5 years. The -Chief Points in the provisions of the Bill are as follows — The -ate of lepa.wnent will be .'>i pel cent , 2$ being interest and i per cent, tor Sinking Fund. The terminable annuity will last 6H\ years A perpetual rent-char ge is to be provided apamst sub-div ision and mortgaging There will be r>o decadal reductions. Oi"U'-eighth of the annual pay merit will be p< tpc tual icnt-charge, tins being m addition to the l\\ \vv cent pievioii'-ly mentioned r l here will be work in ~ capital for improvements- of £25(>,000, and there will be an addition to the working capital ol the Congest cd Districts Boai d of £20,000 a \ ear Advances will be in cash, r,< t stock, but stock will be issued at 2$ per cent to provide the cvT-h Rents that have never been revised at all by tho Commission are to be treated as second term rents The amounts of reduction to be allowed for tenants purchasing shall bi> between 1O per cent and !{() per cent, for second term rents, while for first term rents the reduction shall be between 20 and 4O per cent When the maionty purchase, the minority lose their l ights of rent iev ision Untenanted lane' may bo added to holdings which are uneconomic owing to their size or quality and this provision would include tenants who within 25 veorsof the passing oi thi.s A^t had b -en owneis of untenanted holdings, \rol\ r ol more th.iii £500 shall be advanced lor any such holding An estate can be purchased in the Land Judge's Court, which may authorise the sale of untenanted land for the benefit ol small communities, to be held in trust for them.

m J™ Estate Commissioners would be tho Right Hon. J?red Wrench, Mr. Michael Finucane, Companion of the Star of India Commissioner of Agriculture under the Presidency of Bengal ; and Mr. William F. Bailey The instates Commissioners will have power to change rents from first into second term where a purchase proposal is made Ihe Government propose that the period in which the loan shall be repayable shall be GB* years instead of 72£ years as at present. 1 J bev . win introduce stringent provisions against subdivision and mortgaging. A portion of the annuity will be made permanent so as to prevent the holder from falling into the hands of money-1-enders. This may be abolished if the dangers feared are found illusory Seven-eighths of the repayment will stand for 3i per cent , ol which £2 15s will bo for interest and 10s for principal. The remaining one-eighth will stand at £2 los per cent. The Estates Commissioners may purchase an estate Irom a landlord, but within limits imposed by the Bill ■ they may not purchase except under the agreement of three-fourths of the tenants in number and value. It is arranged that the maximum charge in any one year on the Estimates cannot exceed £390 000 The Government undertake to establish forthwith an economy of £250,000 a year on the Irish Estimates. Complicated legal embarrassments having hitherto stopped land purchase in Ireland, cash was necessary The Government proposed to give it as needed up to twelve millions. Advances will in future be made in cash, not stock Money to raise the cash will be issued in New 2$ per Cent Stock, redeemable in thirty years. The date of the commencement of the Bill is the first of No\ ember, so no loan is needed until the winter It is calculated that only five millions will be needed in any one of the first three years. Ireland is entitled to £185,000 a year equivalent grant to that mado in England last year for education This money is available for purposes under this Act. The Bill was read a second time in the House of Commons on Thursday last, just six weeks from its introduction, so that members had sufficient time, notwithstanding its technical and intricate nature, to have thoroughly mastered its provisions. The voting was 443 for, and 26 against the second reading Mr. Healy mercilessly attacked the Homo Rule Liberals, who opposed the measure, and predicted that the Bill would change more than Ireland ; it would change England too. Mr. Moiiey, warmly supporting the Bill, elicited from Mr. Wyndham, amid cheers, a promise to discuss the fust clause in the committee stage with an open mind All the members of the minority consisted of Liberals, excepting two Unionists— Sir C. Dilke and Mr. ilayne