§ MR. CLANCYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant 37 of Ireland if he can now state whether he will introduce as a separate Government measure the 1st and 2nd clauses of the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Bill, or a Bill containing similar provisions calculated to effect the object aimed at by those clauses?
§ MR. JACKSONWith regard to the 1st clause of the Bill referred to, I have already expressed an opinion in reply to a question in this House. The 2nd clause is one which the Government could not accept.
§ MR. CLANCYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what is his objection to the 1st clause?
§ MR. JACKSONWith regard to the 1st clause, I stated, in answer to a question that was put to me, that if I had evidence that landlords and tenants desiring to come to an agreement had been shut out by the expiration of time under Clause 13 of the Land Purchase Act, I could consider whether we could not introduce a Bill giving some extension of time to the clause.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)As this is a matter of some importance, I should like to know whether the right hon. Gentleman will assist us by indicating the nature and form of evidence he would require—what is the nature of the evidence required—in order that the Government should introduce a Bill. Would he be satisfied if Irish Members were to give him the information that may enable him to judge?
§ MR. JACKSONWell, Sir, of course I should pay great respect to the information supplied to me by Irish Members, or by those who have any information on the subject. Perhaps it is not necessary for me to indicate further the nature of the information; but if any evidence is brought before me I will give the matter most careful consideration.
§ MR. SEXTONWhat I mean to urge upon the attention of the right hon. Gentleman is this: Will it be indispensable that the right hon. Gentleman should be convinced by the evidence of landlords themselves that the time ought to be extended?
§ MR. JACKSONI am quite sure I should not feel justified in asking the House for leave to bring in a Bill, or in asking the House to pass it, 38 unless I was pretty well convinced that my doing so would lead to some practical result. If I had evidence that would convince me that it would lead to some practical result, I certainly would bring in a Bill to extend the time.
§ MR. CLANCYDoes it not occur to the right hon. Gentleman that the fact of leaving the matter doubtful will have the effect of preventing landlords and tenants from coming to agreements?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, Sir. On the contrary, I think the faction taken to keep the matter open has tended rather in the direction of preventing agreements being come to.