§ MR. MOLLOYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to give effect to the proposals contained in the Draft Report of the Secretary to the Admiralty, proposed by him as Chairman of the Select Committee of 1878 on the Irish Land Act of 1870, and which proposals are contained in paragraph 95 of said Draft Report, and are as follows:— 181
That, in the present state of land ownership in Ireland, it is desirable that facilities should be given by the State for the conversion of tenancies into ownerships by purchase; that the increase of small owners would tend to give stability to the social system, would spread contentment and loyalty, and would give a spur to industry and thrift.
MR. GLADSTONE; Sir, I am not quite sure whether I understand the Question of the hon. Member (Mr. Molloy) as referring to the present period or as referring to a future period. It is undoubtedly our desire to propose legislation in accordance with the general view taken in the passage which the hon. Member has cited from the Report of the Select Committee. We are of opinion it is of great importance for the welfare of Ireland that Parliament should effect everything that is practicable in that respect. Indeed, among the first subjects we considered after the formation of the Government we made inquiry into this matter; and it was only because we found it would be too complex a subject for legislation during the present Session that we were obliged so far to postpone the attempt to give effect to our intentions.