TENANTS (IRELAND) BILL.

HC Deb 28 April 1847 vol 92 cc54-7

MR. SHARMAN CRAWFORD moved the Second Reading of the Tenants (Ireland) Bill. He remarked, that having received intimation that Government were not engaged in bringing in a Bill on this subject, he had been induced to take the task of doing so upon himself. The question had been repeatedly before the House in different forms; and it had at different times been decided that compensation ought to be given to tenants for improvements. Under these circumstances, he did not wish to detain the House with any statement on the subject just now, but would simply move the second reading of the Bill. If hon. Members consented to the second read- ing, he hoped the discussion would be taken on the details. If, however, the second reading was opposed, he hoped he would be permitted to reply to such arguments as might be urged against it.

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

said, that really this Bill struck at the very roots of property, and it would be extremely improper for the Government to give a silent assent to its second reading. It was very fashionable in that House to talk of compensation to Irish tenants for improvements. He was free to confess, that he had at one time been of opinion that Irish landlords were a set of men who were justly proscribed; but that was when he was in the same state of ignorance as a largo portion of Members of that House were still in respecting Ireland. Two years' residence there, however, and his connexion with that country, had shown him that there was considerable sympathy due to Irish proprietors. The present Bill professed to secure the rights of the occupying tenants of Ireland. He thought he might more fairly call upon the House to pass a Bill to secure the rights of resident proprietors. He was quite aware of the existence of what was called "tenant right" in Ulster; but he begged to enter his solemn protest against extending it to the south of Ireland. He did not know whether the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. S. Crawford) had been in the south of Ireland, or was acquainted with the state of things there between landlord and tenant, but he suspected he was not. He assured the House that he had various tenants who were owing him three or four years' rent, and that, so far from finding it easy to get rid of them, he was obliged not only to give up his claim for the rent, but to make them a present of 50l. a piece to go out. What more would they have? The fact was, that the whole south of Ireland was a mass of bad cultivation and bad management. A tenant came in without sixpence in his pocket; he exhausted the land in a very short time, and then asked for a reduction of rent; and when the landlord sought to eject him, he was obliged to pay him to go. The House should really consider these things, and instead of raising the cry against landlords, and setting everybody's hand against them, they ought in the first place to confirm the rights of property in Ireland. But the system of legislation the House was pursuing at present, struck at the very roots of property in that country. He cautioned English Gentlemen to beware lest the same rules they were now laying down for Ireland should come to be pretty strictly enforced on this side of the water also. He was unwilling to take upon himself the invidious distinction of opposing this Bill on its second reading; but he should feel obliged to do so. unless he got a distinct assurance from some Member of Government present who took an interest in Irish matters, that they would not consent to its passing in the shape in which it then stood. If they gave him that assurance, he should content himself with protesting against it at present, and try to pull it to pieces as much as he could in Committee. [Cries of "Move,"] Well, then, he begged at once to move, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.

MR. MONAHAN

(the Solicitor General for Ireland) regretted very much the unavoidable absence of the Chief Secretary for Ireland (Mr. Labouchere). Several other Members of Government were also necessarily absent; and, as the present measure was one of considerable importance, and required the best attention of the House, he would respectfully put it to the hon. Member for Rochdale to allow the debate to be adjourned for the present. If the hon. Member declined to accede to that request, he begged to say, that so far as he was personally concerned, he would not take upon himself, in the absence of the other Members of Government, to oppose the Bill; but neither would he be understood by his silence as pledging himself, or those with whom he acted, to the details.

MR. CRAWFORD

felt unwilling to object to the adjournment of the debate, it another day could be fixed for resuming it.

Debate adjourned.

House adjourned at Five o'clock.