§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether, with a view to affording relief to debenture-holders in the Edgeworthstown Loan Fund Society who lost their lives' savings Owing to the fraudulent conduct of the clerk, he intends passing a Loans Fund Bill this year.
§ MR. ATKINSONI am most anxious that this Bill should be passed, and cannot understand why it should be opposed. I have every hope that it will be passed, and would ask the hon. Member to endeavour to help the Government to that end.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Irish Party considered this Bill most carefully last year and this year and formulated certain Amendments which in their opinion were necessary; is not the delay in passing due to the fact that the Government will not grant time for its discussion, and are we expected to allow it to pass sub silentio?
§ MR. ATKINSONreplied that soma Amendments were submitted but he was 781 unable to approve them. He had since understood that other Amendments in a modified form were to be submitted.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDSince we submitted our Amendments no communication whatever has been received from the Government.
§ MR. ATKINSONsaid that was not his fault.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDsaid he submitted the Amendments on behalf of the Irish Party to the present Chief Secretary, and got in reply a very curt refusal to accept them.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe original Amendments were unacceptable and we expeeted further Amendments would be submitted.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDBut no further communication passed with us at all.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Bristol, S.I take it the hon. Gentleman refers to a communication made to me shortly after I accepted my present offiee.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDYes.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI do not think it is correct to say I curtly refused the Amendments. What I did was to suggest that they went somewhat beyond the scope of the Bill.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDThere have been no further communications between the Government and myself.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Bill as now drafted does not cover the case I have called attention to in the Question at all—a case in which people lost everything through the default of the Board in Dublin in absolutely winking at the falsification of returns.
§ MR. ATKINSONThat point is not raised by the Question.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI have over and over again put the case before the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. ATKINSONIf the hon. Member wishes to make the Exchequer pay debts for people who will not or cannot pay themselves I refuse to support him.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI wish to get the right hon. Gentleman to admit the-responsibility of the Government in this, case, as I believe it to exist.