§ MR. JOHN REDMONDasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether the promise given when the Bill creating the Irish Development Grant Fund was passed, that each session an opportunity would be afforded for the allocation of the fund, would be redeemed, especially as the Estimate issued early in the session had been withdrawn and an entirely different Estimate substituted only two days ago.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR,in reply, said that if the hon. and learned Gentleman would allow him to look into the facts and consult with his right hon. friend, he would then give him all the information he could on the subject:
MR. GIBSON BOWLESasked whether, this being in the nature of a new Estimate, it could be taken on one of the allotted days.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIt is headed "Revised Estimate," and there is a note as follows:—"This Estimate is to be substituted for the Estimate presented for the same service earlier in the year." It is dated July 24th. I will put another Question down for Monday. May I further ask whether the Government really intend to introduce their amending Land Bill, which has met with hostile criticism from all quarters of the House. If it is introduced, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that it will be treated as a highly controversial measure.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid the Bill to which the hon. and learned Gentleman referred was one which was as muck in the interests of the Irish tenants, indeed more of the tenants than of the Irish landlords. [Cries of "No."] That was the intention of the Government; it might have been ill carried out in the Bill. In view of the explicit declaration made by the hon. and learned Gentleman, and in view of the period of the session, of course it would be impossible to proceed with the Bill if it was going to meet with determined and hostile opposition on the part of the majority of Irish Members.