§ MR. PENROSE-FITZGERALD (Cambridge)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, having regard 1454 to the recent land legislation for Ireland, he can hold out any hope of an inquiry into the incidence of taxation upon land in Ireland, including the tithe rent-charge?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The Government are very well aware of the hardships which the owners of land in Ireland suffer under the recent land legislation, in that they have to meet fixed charges which have been imposed upon the land under very different circumstances from those which now exist, and we should be exceedingly glad if it was in our power to hold out any hope of affording relief to the persons who are suffering from these serious hardships; but considering the responsibility which attaches to them, the Government cannot hold out any expectation that it may not be in their power to realize in any great degree. All, therefore, that I can promise my hon. Friend is that the Government will give their very serious consideration to the subject to which he has drawn attention; and, if it be in our power in any way to suggest measures of relief, we shall be very glad to do so.