§ MR. E. STANHOPEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will state to the House his present estimate for the current financial year of the extra expenditure occasioned by the increase in the Constabulary, the administration of the Irish Land and Arrears Acts, and by any other administrative or judicial changes due to the exceptional condition of Ireland?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, I cannot give to this Question any other than a general answer. Of course, the proper time for discussing it with a view to full 1198 and clear information will be when the Estimates come before the House, and a regular comparison can be made. The growth of the Civil Expenditure in Ireland has been gradual, as may be readily understood from the gradual change in the circumstances of Ireland. Consequently, the figures I am about to state, unless understood with modifications, might lead to some exaggerated ideas, because in order to go back to a period when there was nothing in the nature of extra expenditure, we must go back to the years 1878 and 1879, The increase which has taken place since that time, taking the year of comparison as 1882-3, was estimated at less than£500,000; but it is even more than that. It is more than £o00,000, and is comprised of great items—£450,000 for Police and£150,000 for the Land Court. There are also Naval and Military charges—I do not know that they are very great—but not included in the figures I have named.