§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)With reference to the conversation that took place last night as to the course of Business, I then said that I would give the earliest information to the House as to the course which I proposed to take. I see from the Notice Paper that the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland will move on Monday for leave to bring in a Bill for the purpose of further facilitating the Purchase of Land in Ireland. I propose to move an Amendment to that Motion, to the following effect:—
That, in lieu of proceeding again to vote the sum of £5,000,000 so as to place the State in the direct relation of landlord to the Irish occupier, under the provisions of "The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1885,' it is expedient, especially in view of the lamentable sufferings caused by recent evictions in Ireland, to extend the provisions of The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1887,' so as to empower the Land Court to reduce or cancel the arrears of rents found to be excessive, as well as to deal with the rents themselves, after the example of the legislation recently and beneficially applied to the crofters' holdings in Scotland.