HC Deb 26 July 1888 vol 329 cc516-8
MR. W. P. SINCLAIR&c.) (Falkirk,

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any advances for the purchase of their holdings under Lord Ashbourne's Land Purchase Act have been made to tenants in districts which were disturbed at the time of such advances being sanctioned; whether, since these advances have been made, the work of the police in maintaining order has been rendered less difficult; whether he has information to show that in such districts an increased desire is now evinced among those who have not availed themselves yet of the benefits of the Act to do so; and, further, if the proportion of arrears still outstanding in such districts is on as low a scale proportionately as over the rest of Ireland?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I find that it is the case that in disturbed districts where advances have been made to tenants under the Land Purchase Act, these districts have shown improvement, and a strong disinclination is evinced by the new owners to join Secret Societies or take part in any agitation. The Land Purchase Commissioners also report that in all districts where sales were effected in the earlier stages of the Act there is an increasing desire to purchase. The reply to the concluding portion of the Question appears to be in the affirmative.

MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

asked, on whose authority the right hon. Gentleman made these statements; and whether he had sought for information from the Land Commissioners or the police?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have sought information from all the sources from which I thought it could be obtained.

MR. MAURICE HEALY

wished to know whether they were to understand that the right hon. Gentleman's information was based on any statement made to him by the Land Commissioners?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The opinion of the Land Commission, among other opinions, is worthy of consideration; but I do not propose to state to the House, in answer to a Question, the sources from which I derive my information.

MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

inquired, whether it was not the fact that the tenants who purchased their holdings under Lord Ashbourne's Act were now complaining that the prices which they paid were altogether too high?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have not heard anything of the kind. I have received no information to that effect.

MR. W. P. SINCLAIR

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman was able now to state what the intentions of the Government were with regard to providing further funds for enabling the Commis- sioners under the Land Purchase Act to carry on the work which had proved so successful in the past?

MR. MAURICE HEALY

As the answer to this Question is apparently to be made the basis for further legislation on the question of land purchase, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will lay upon the Table a Return in support of the views which he has put forward in regard to these districts?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Gentleman is perfectly aware that we cannot support by Returns all the views which we may put forward in this House; that is not, from the nature of the case, possible. I have not given my answer as the basis of further legislation. When we propose further legislation to the House—which, I may say in answer to my hon. Friend, it is the intention of the Government to do in the course of the Session—I do not say before the Recess, but before the Prorogation—when I bring forward the Bill, I shall state the grounds upon which we shall ask the House to accept our proposals.