HC Deb 09 July 1897 vol 50 cc1477-9
JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he was in a position to state the names of gentlemen who were to constitute the Commission to inquire into the administration of the Land Acts and Land Purchase Acts in Ireland.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Royal Commission to be appointed to inquire into the procedure and practice and the methods of valuation followed under the Land Law Acts and the Land Purchase Acts, Ireland, will be constituted as follows:—

The right hon. Sir Edward Fry, formerly one of the Judges of Her Majesty's Court of Appeal, will be the Chairman.

The other Members will be Mr. Robert Vigers, and Mr. George Gordon, experts in the valuation of land; Mr. Traill and Mr. George Fottrell.

Mr. Cherry, Q.C., will act as Secretary of the Commission.

MR. J. MORLEY

I should like to put a Question to the First Lord of the Treasury in connection with this subject. He is perhaps aware that there has been standing on the Paper in my name for some time a notice giving the House an opportunity of expressing its disapproval of the issue of this Commission, I should like to ask whether he can arrange for a day for the discussion of this matter?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

The right hon. Gentleman has only just given notice of this Question. Perhaps he would put it off; in order that I may give a final answer, to this day week. It is impossible next week that I should find a day, for reasons with which this House is very familiar. May I point out to the right hon. Gentleman, however, that there has been a whole night spent already on Irish Estimates in discussing this particular Question. With a view of winding up the Session I am not of course very anxious to give days, of which there are only two left to me, to carry out what is absolutely the minimum programme of legislation. Would the right hon. Gentleman before next Friday consider this suggestion? The Vote for the Land Commission has not yet been passed; I believe I could undertake—it is only a provisional suggestion—that if that Vote were allowed to be passed in the ordinary course under the Standing Order, I would take the report of that Vote first upon the day which under the Standing Order is given to the discussion of the Report stage of Supply. It appears to me that that might meet the views of the right hon. Gentleman and would not involve the deferring of our holiday, which many of us are very desirous to have.

MR. J. MORLEY

Of course, I shall naturally give my best consideration to the suggestion which the right hon. Gentleman has thrown out. I would only put it to him that the issue of this Commission is, as he will admit, a subject of very great importance indeed, and there is a great deal to be said against taking a specific and definite matter of this kind in connection with a mere discussion on the Estimates, I think he will recognise that, but I will, however, consult hon. Gentlemen from Ireland on this matter.

MR. T. M. HEALY

With regard to the Land Commission, will the Chief Secretary give us the addresses and qualifications of Mr. Robert Vigers and Mr. George Gordon?

*MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am afraid I cannot give the addresses. Mr. Robert Vigers is very well known as a land surveyor and valuer in London. Mr. George Gordon is also an eminent man in his profession; he is a native of Scotland—[Irish laughter]—and has been engaged very largely in the service of the Crofters' Commission.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Have either of these gentlemen visited Ireland in their lives?

*MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I cannot say.

MR. MACNEILL

Is Dr. Traill our eminent Orange friend of Trinity College?

[No answer was given.]