§ MR. SYNANasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in order to facilitate loans to tenants under the 31st Clause of the Irish Land Act of 1881 for the improvement of their holdings, and thereby provide employment for the agricultural labouring population during the coming severe winter, the Treasury 119 will order the Board of Public Works (Ireland) to dispense with the rule requiring the tenant to execute a deed of covenant with two solvent sureties for the repayment of the loan?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the Government have, as the hon. Member is aware, considered carefully what measures it may be their duty to take in view of the distress which, I am afraid, we must look forward to as very probable in certain limited parts of Ireland. But we cannot think it desirable to dispense with the rule requiring the tenant to execute a deed of covenant with two sureties for the repayment of a loan. This question has had very careful consideration in former times, and we do not think that it is a good method of operating on behalf of the population. The exaction of sureties causes no delay or practical hardship. These sureties, which are needful in the public interest, impose a wholesome check upon applications, they establish a sort of local testimony in favour of the applicant, and they encourage a principle of cooperation and mutual aid among the people. These are among the reasons which led us to the adoption of this rule.