HC Deb 05 April 1894 vol 22 cc1454-6
MR. T. W. RUSSELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is now in a position to say when the Motion for the appointment of the Select Committee on the Irish Land Acts will be made?

MR. J. MORLEY

I very much regret to say, in answer to the hon. Member, that I am still not in a position to say when this appointment will be effectively made. I have, as the hon. Member is aware, done my best to meet the objections taken to the form of Reference by hon. Members opposite, and I have altered it to that end. I understand that the alterations do not meet all the objections that are taken, I believe, as to the Committee making land purchase the first head of Reference. My own view is that the inquiry would probably extend through the whole of the present Session. The Committee, therefore, would have to be re-appointed, if the House thought tit, next Session, and that would be the time at which it would be perfectly open to gentlemen who object to this Order of Reference to state their objections. But I am not prepared, in face of the largo interest that I know is taken by all classes and by all parties in Ireland in the whole length and breadth of the Reference, to alter it further. I do not feel I would be doing my duty if I altered the form of it.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

May I ask whether, in view of the opposition to the Reference as it stands, the right hon. Gentleman will take an opportunity of allowing the House to discuss it, and come to a judgment on the matter, as every clay lost is of the utmost importance?

MR. J. MORLEY

I quite agree with the hon. Member that every day lost is a loss of great importance, but I cannot at the present moment—considering the time now at our disposal, and the very heavy charges upon that time—I cannot at the moment think of allowing a day for its discussion.

MR. CARSON (Dublin University)

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman does he think it would be possible to report even within the time of three or four Sessions on this matter, and whether he would not take the first portion first as being the most urgent?

MR. J. MORLEY

We shall take the first portion first as a matter of course, but I do not agree with the hon. Member that it would take the time of three or four Sessions to cover the whole inquiry. I may say that no doubt if the hon. and learned Gentleman were there and exerted his ingenuity that it would take some little time. But I assume that the Select Committee will follow the ordinary practical habits of Committees of this House, and I do not think in that case it will take so long.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would consider the propriety of restricting the Reference in this year to the first part of the Reference which is on the Paper? That is a portion which, I think, would meet with universal approval. Then next year we could consider the question of an augmented Reference, as he himself admits that the augmented Reference cannot be dealt with this year.

MR. J. MORLEY

We do not know what accidents may occur, and I think the right hon. Gentleman himself will admit that it would be very rash for any Government to narrow the scope of an inquiry which they deem of the highest importance, and which the people of Ireland, of both Parties, generally desire to have instituted in as wide a form as possible.

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the Representatives of the great majority of the people of Ireland think that there are questions connected with the purchase of land quite as urgent as any connected with rent, and whether he would receive a suggestion that it would be well to go forward with what he considers urgent, and not waste time in endeavouring to conciliate an irreconcileable opposition?

MR. J. MORLEY

No doubt in a very important part of Ireland the purchase part of the question is quite as important as any other.

MR. DUNBAR BARTON (Armagh, Mid)

Might I ask whether the inquiry would not be expedited if the portion relating to the Lauded Estates Court were postponed, as that raises the question of incumbrances?

MR. J. MORLEY

I think we are rather conducting a discussion upon this subject. In answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman, I will say this—that the Committee, as a practical body, would deal with the land purchase before they proceeded to the question of incumbrances.