§ MR. BIGGARasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government are prepared, pending the introduction of their measure regarding arrears, to discourage evictions in Ireland by withdrawing all support to assist landlords in executing eviction decrees?
MR. GLADSTONESir, without entering into the very important subject of evictions in Ireland, to which the hon. Gentleman refers, I must frankly own that I think that the measure which he suggests and indicates, that the Government shall discourage evictions by withdrawing support to assist landlords in them, is a matter beyond the discre- 1678 tion of the Executive Government. It is our public duty to assist the execution of the law, not always taking into view our own opinion of the reasonableness of what may be intended, and we have no title to adopt the measure which the hon. Member suggests.