§ MR. BURTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he can state what are the special difficulties which have made it impossible for the Cabinet to appoint a representative of the labourers on the Royal Commission about to inquire into agricultural depression; and, whether, considering the strong desire on the part of the labourers to be represented, and the great interests they have at stake in an inquiry of the kind, he can hold out any hope that steps may yet be taken to secure the representation of this body on the Commission?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI can assure the hon. Member and the House that it is not from any want of sympathy with the labourers, or from any want of effort to give effect to it, that we have failed to make the arrangements suggested in the Question. The Government have done their best to find a labourer whom they could place on the Commission, but they have not succeeded in finding any actual bonâ fide labourer who could give the time, or, if that difficulty were overcome, would be recognized as being sufficiently representative of the class to undertake the duties of such a responsible position. The Commission will, however, contain the names of many gentlemen who take a sincere interest in the welfare of the agricultural labourers; and the Government are well assured that it will be one of the very first and most important duties of the Commission to inquire and ascertain in what way they can best arrive at a full statement of the feelings and wishes of the agricultural labourers in different parts of the Kingdom, and to provide for evidence being brought forward and carefully sifted upon those subjects which they wish to bring under the notice of the Commission.
§ MR. CALLANI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether care will be taken that some gentleman connected with Ireland will be placed upon the Commission who represents the interests of the tenant farmers of the country, and that the representation will not be confined to landlords?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI prefer not to answer any Question as to the composition of the Commission until Monday. The hon. Member for Tralee (the O'Donoghue) has given Notice of a Question which I shall be able to answer on that day.
§ MR. BURTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Arch, who enjoys the confidence of the agricultural labourers, and was very recently an agricultural labourer himself, has a thorough knowledge of their position and requirements?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI have always understood that Mr. Arch was an agricultural labourer; but I doubt whether his name would altogether give satisfaction to that class.