§ COLONEL COLTHURSTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the practical impossibility of obtaining an opportunity for discussing the restrictions imposed by Treasury Minute of the 21st December, 1881, upon Loans to Occupiers, under sec. 31, Land Act, 1881, he will consent to relax the most onerous of all, namely, that fixing £100 as the minimum sum to be lent?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I can only say at present that it is a very large and important matter that is involved in this Question; it is no less than this, whether the advances to be made by the Treasury in the cases of particular holdings shall assume the character partially of loans and partially of gifts. I do not wish now to express an opinion whether it ought or ought not to be done. In my opinion, it is much too important a subject to be treated as a mere matter of Executive detail. The question was carefully considered some months ago, when my noble Friend Lord Frederick Cavendish—now lost to the country—was Secretary to the Treasury, and the course that has been adopted is the only course we felt authorized to adopt. The subject is one which will be adverted to at a time when a statement is made to the House as to the course the Government advises on this and other points of importance.