SECOND READING. (Hansard, 6 April 1881)

§ MR. P. J. SMYTH
Mr. Speaker, I think I shall best consult the interests of the House, and the interests of the cause which I have so much at heart, if I refrain from availing myself of this opportunity for raising a discussion on the great question which will be presented to us to-morrow in all its fulness and details by the right hon. Gentleman at the head of Her Majesty's Government. I propose, therefore, to postpone the second reading of this Bill. I may, perhaps, be allowed to say a word in explanation of the Bill, which was introduced in the Session of 1875. It consists of two parts, of which the one claims to give practical effect to the beneficent clauses of the Land Act of 1870, which 802 are associated with the name of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Birmingham (Mr. John Bright), and the other the utilization of the waste lands of Ireland, of which there are upwards of 4,000,000 acres, 2,000,000 of which are believed to be susceptible of reclamation. I believe the Bill in both these details is sound in principle, and would be beneficial in its operation; and I postpone it in the confident expectation that the genius of the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government will surmount the tremendous difficulties that encompass the Land Question, and will show to-morrow that society may be saved in Ireland, and the tenantry secured without the infliction of any loss on my fellow-countrymen.

§ MR. SPEAKER
To what day does the hon. Gentleman propose to postpone the second reading?

§ MR. P. J. SMYTH
To the 29th of June.

§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR
said, he was sorry his hon. Friend the Member for Tipperary (Mr. P. J. Smyth) postponed the second reading of the Bill, which he (Mr. T. P. O'Connor) thought would be very beneficial, especially to the smaller classes of tenants. Moreover, he thought the reason for postponing it was not a good one—namely, that the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government would deal with the question in a satisfactory manner. It was by no means proved that the question would be dealt with by him in a satisfactory manner.