§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTESir, we understood the other day from the Prime Minister that he would to-day be able to make a statement as to Clauses 31 and 34 in the Irish Land Bill, relating to the constitution of the proposed Land Court. I want to know if he is now in a position to give that information?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I am not in a position to state with completeness the particulars in which we propose to modify the clauses with respect to the Court; but, of course, there is one point on which I can state distinctly the intentions of the Government in explanation of what I have previously said. I used a general expression that it would be in the power of the parties to pass through the Civil Bill Court to the Commission; our meaning is that it will be in the power of either of the parties to do so. With respect to the clauses, what we should propose is this—It may probably be found a convenient course that when we come to any clause that embraces points that will be modified by us, we should postpone those clauses, and finish the legislative clauses, for we have yet remaining some important legislative clauses. We shall find it convenient to postpone the clauses that require to be modified in relation to the constitution of the Court; and particularly it will be necessary to postpone, undoubtedly and unconditionally, the clause in which the Members of the Commission will be named.