HC Deb 10 March 1896 vol 38 cc609-11
MR. ENGLEDOW

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he can state, even approxi mately, the date at which he hopes to introduce the proposed legislation with reference to the Irish Land Question; and whether provision will be made in the proposed legislation to ameliorate the condition of the evicted tenants?

MR. J. P. FARRELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether it is true, as stated in Saturday's newspapers, that he intends to introduce the Irish Land Bill on next Monday; and, if not, can he definitely state on what date he intends introducing the Bill, and will its introduction take place with or without explanatory speech?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am not in a position to state the date on which the Land Bill will be introduced. When it is introduced I certainly hope to accompany it by an explanatory statement. The Bill will contain certain provisions dealing with the condition of the evicted tenants.

DR. TANNER

Will the Bill be introduced before Easter?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

That will partly depend on the progress of public business.

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

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as the 25th March is the gale day of thousands of Irish tenants, and the commencement of the judicial abatement of rent is determined by the gale day when the originating notice is served, he will arrange that the Land Bill shall be introduced before the 25th March, so that tenants who are awaiting its provisions before serving their notices may not lose an entire half-year's reduction in their rents?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

With regard to the date of the introduction of the Bill I have nothing more to say. I do not know to what class of tenants the hon. Member refers in his Question, nor how any class can be prejudiced by a few days delay in the introduction of the Bill.

MR. T. M. HEALY

There is a large class of tenants waiting for the introduction of the Bill, and if the Bill is not introduced before April they will lose half a year's gale.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I see nothing to prevent them making application before the introduction of the Bill.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Ignorance of the Bill will prevent them.