HC Deb 21 February 1896 vol 37 cc831-3
MR. M. McCARTAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can give any information as to the average prices of agricultural produce and cattle in Ireland for the first three years of the working of the Land Acts of 1881 and 1887 respectively, and also for the year 1895?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am making inquiries into this matter in consequence of a Notice of Motion which the hon. Gentleman had already placed on the Paper for Tuesday next. Perhaps he will repeat the question on Monday.

MR. J. DALY

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, if he can say what day the Irish Land Bill will be introduced; and, is it his intention to endeavour to pass the Bill in time to relieve the judicial tenants whose rents fall due upon 1st May, 1896?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

No date can be fixed at present, but due notice will be given when the time comes round for my right hon. Friend near me (Mr. Gerald Balfour) to introduce the Bill. As I understand the second paragraph of the question, the hon. Member seems to be under a misapprehension. No revision of judicial rents can come into operation until next year under any circumstances.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could tell the House approximately the date when the Government intended to introduce the Bill? He presumed the Government intended to introduce it before Easter.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

We earnestly desire to introduce it before Easter, but, unfortunately, this year the Supplementary Estimates are very heavy, and I should not like to give a pledge about the introduction of any Bill until I see what treatment the Estimates receive.

MR. MAURICE HEALY

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that, in consequence of the communications that passed between the Chief Secretary and the Land Commission at the close of the year, and the statement then made by Mr. Justice Bewley, a large number of tenants in Ireland who were at present entitled to enter the Court to have their rents revised refrained from doing so in anticipation of this Bill?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

As the hon. Member is well aware, that does not make any difference as to the period in which the new rents can be paid. Even if the tenants had used their right to go into Court last year, that would not have hastened by an hour the period at which any revised rent would have become due.

MR. DALY

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had received representations from all parts of Ireland as to the urgency of the Land Bill for Ireland?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I have not received such representations, but I am well aware that there is a very strong feeling in Ireland on the subject.