CAPTAIN AYLMER (for Mr. FITZ-PATRICK)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, having regard to Mr. Tuke's letter in the "Standard" of June 5th, stating the anxiety of the people in the western districts of Con-naught to emigrate, and the difficulty of procuring funds for that purpose, Her Majesty's Government will make arrangements to supplement the power now possessed by guardians of Poor Law Unions of giving money in aid of emigration, by granting a loan at a low rate of interest to those Poor Law Unions which were scheduled under the Belief of Distress (Ireland) Act of 1880; and, whether, having regard to the great urgency of the case, they will make such arrangements as rapidly as possible?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-QUEE (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, there is no doubt of the importance of this question; but, if it be an urgent question, it is not the only urgent one in connection with 229 Irish, legislation, for there are other matters which have been partially the subject of discussion this year, some relating to the various clauses of the Land Act, and more particularly to the Purchase Clauses, which likewise demand the consideration of the Government. But I do not think that any advantage will arise from my entering at this period into a statement of what the Government intend upon the subject. We have before us the passing of two Bills, which form the bulk of our immediate duty in this House. By the time these two Bills are disposed of, there is one subject which it will be quite necessary to take up—namely, the Taxes Bill. When that again has been disposed of, and it is not a matter that can possibly occupy a great deal of time, then will be the time when we may fairly be called upon to state our intentions with regard to other subjects.
§ MR. T.P. O'CONNORMay we hope, from what the right hon. Gentleman has said, that we shall have a statement from the Government with reference to the other points under the Land Act before the close of the Session?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Yes; I do not pretend to say now, Sir, what we shall be able to deal with practically, and what we shall not be able to deal with practically, during the remainder of the present Session; but I think it will be quite proper for the Government to state their intentions when we have arrived at the point to which I have referred.