HC Deb 18 August 1893 vol 16 cc528-9
SIR T. LEA (Londonderry, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if the Address recently sent to him by Irish Presbyterians recorded their convictions that an urgent necessity exists for an immediate revision of judicial rents; and whether the Government will at once introduce a Bill to carry this into effect?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, Midlothian

It is quite correct to hold that this, along with other very important demands on the part of that portion of the Irish Presbyterian community who did me the honour of addressing me in respect to the Land Laws, was made known to me, but I cannot separate these demands one from the other. It is not possible for the Government to introduce such a Bill, certainly not at the present time.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether ho is aware that a Bill dealing with the revision of judicial rents has been brought in and moved constantly from the Conservative side by the hon. Member for North Fermanagh, and has been blocked with equal regularity by the Conservative Member for South Antrim?

MR. PINKERTON (Galway)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to repeat the other points of interest in the letter?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

It is unjust of the hon. Member to ask me to repeat by heart a portion of the Presbyterian letter, especially as no notice has been given to me that I should at least commit it to memory. The hon. Member is most welcome to see the letter.

MR. PINKERTON

Am I right in saying that the letter expressed sympathy with the general policy of the Government with regard to Home Rule?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

Unquestionably; that was his main object.

MR. ROSS (Londonderry)

Will the right hon. Gentleman afford an opportunity of investigating the names of the alleged Presbyterians, inasmuch as we believe—[Cries of" Order!"]

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

When I have received letters from professional persons and others expressing their friendliness to Home Rule, they have contained an express reservation that their names shall not be divulged on account of the injury to their professional prospects they would have to undergo from even the suspicion of their being associated with friendliness to Home Rule. I do not recollect whether there is any such limitation in the present instance. If I find that there is not such a limitation, the hon. Member is perfectly at liberty, so far as I am concerned, to see the names.

MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER

Order, order! Any further questions in regard to this matter ought not to be asked without notice.