EARL OF CAVAN (Somerset, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in order to facilitate the unrestrained discussion by Irish tenants in regard to the benefits proposed to be conferred upon them by the Land Purchase Bill, he can assure the House that police reporters will be instructed not to attend public or private meetings when Members of Parliament or others address Irish tenants on this and kindred subjects?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURPolice reporters do not attend meetings unless they have reason to fear that a breach of the law may be committed. I am unable to understand how the presence of a police reporter can put a restraint on any 18 discussion which is not of an illegal character.
§ In reply to a further question by the Earl of CAVAN,
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid: I am not aware that any reason has been adduced for altering the habitual procedure with regard to police reporters. I believe that notice is sometimes given of the intention of the police to send reporters to meetings. I do not know whether reporters will attend those meetings or not.
§ MR. SEXTONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the amounts, for the last financial year, of the several items proposed by his Land Purchase (Ireland) Bill to constitute the contingent guarantee fund?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have already-taken steps for the preparation of a Return to be laid upon the Table of this House which will include the information indicated in this question. It will, I hope, be laid in ample time for the discussion on the Second Reading.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman give a Return showing the extent to which the probate and license; funds will be allocated?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think that will require a separate Return. It will be sufficiently evidenced in the Bill itself.
§ MR. K. HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)Will the sum hitherto devoted to the encouragement of the breeding of horses for agricultural purposes be still guaranteed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt is proposed that that sum—.£5,000 a year, I believe—shall be placed upon the Votes.
§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to give a continuation of the Return granted to my hon. Friend the Member for the Rushcliffe Division (Mr. J. Ellis) from 1882 to 1889.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI gave an answer to that question to the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe Division a few days ago. I said that Returns containing full information on the subject of sales by property-owners in Ireland will be laid on the Table before the Second Reading of the Land Bill.
§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)May I point out that the Returns are very incomplete.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Member must be aware that the preparation of these Returns has thrown a great amount of work upon the officials; but if the hon. Member will discuss the subject with me I will see what I can do to comply with his wishes and render the Returns complete.
§ MR. KEAY (Elgin and Nairn)Will the Returns be prepared before the Easter Recess?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid it will be impossible to present the Returns which hon. Members want before the Faster Recess. They will be presented immediately after the Recess, when there will be ample time to study them before the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ MR. J. MORLEYWhen will the Bill be circulated?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI shall be surprised and disappointed if the Bill is not circulated by Saturday morning.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the Olphert Estate forms a portion of one of the congested districts to be dealt with by the Land Purchase (Ireland) Bill introduced on the 24th instant, he proposes to give the forces of the Crown for the carrying out of evictions there?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt does not seem to me that the proposals I have laid before Parliament afford either reason or justification for my refusing protection to those engaged in carrying out the decrees of a duly constituted tribunal.
§ *MR. P. O'BRIENMay I ask whether, in the interests of philanthropy, some consideration may not be paid to these unfortunate people, especially as it is intended to deal with them under the Land Purchase Bill, which the right hon. Gentleman introduced the other night? Could not the right hon. Gentleman exercise a similar pressure under the law as that exercised by his predecessor, the present President of the Board of Trade?
§ [No answer was given.]