§ LORD FITZGERALDsaid, he wished to put a Question, of which he had given 1244 private Notice to the noble Earl opposite (Earl Cadogan), in reference to a very important Bill which stood for Committee on Thursday next—he alluded to the Irish Land Law Bill. The noble Earl would recollect that, in the course of the debate on the second reading, suggestions were made from various parts of the House for the amendment of the measure, and that the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor of Ireland (Lord Ashbourne), as well as the noble Earl opposite himself, said that those suggestions would be considered by the Government, with a view to their being embodied in such Amendments as they might deem advisable. The Amendments to be proposed by the Government were not yet in the hands of their Lordships; but he understood they might expect to receive them some time to-morrow, and he thought that if the Committee were to be proceeded with on Thursday there would be but a very short interval allowed to their Lordships for considering the Amendments, which would require to be most carefully examined. He asked the noble Earl, therefore, Whether it would be inopportune to postpone, for some short time beyond Thursday next, the Committee stage of the Bill? He could assure the noble Earl that there was no desire in any part of the House to obstruct or delay that measure, but only an anxious wish to make it as perfect as possible. As the Bill was intended to amend the Act of 1881, by removing many of the inequalities and difficulties in applying that measure, he thought that a reasonable time should be given to consider these Amendments.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN), in reply, said, he had received Notice only a few minutes ago of the noble and learned Lord's Question, and he was afraid he was unable to give him an immediate answer, as he had not been able to consider the matter, or to consult with his Colleagues upon it. He might, however, state that he was about to lay on the Table that evening the Amendments which the Government would propose in the Bill, and he hoped that they would be in the hands of noble Lords to-morrow. In regard to the Question of the noble and learned Lord as to the postponement of the Committee on the Bill, the Government were exceedingly anxious to pro- 1245 ceed with the Bill without delay. They had already given an interval of three weeks between the second reading and the Committee stage, and he himself would be very unwilling to accede to any further delay. At the same time, as that appeal came from so influential a quarter, and was deserving of consideration, he would ask the noble and learned Lord to be kind enough to repeat his Question to-morrow.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL, in supporting the request for a further postponement, said, that if the Amendments of the Government were of an extensive character, it appeared to him that Thursday was rather a shorter interval than was usual in a matter of such great importance.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that if the Amendments to be proposed by the noble Earl on behalf of the Government were of such a nature as to change the character of the measure, it would be necessary to consider it in its altered shape. If, however, the Government proposed to go on as arranged, there was scarcely time enough to consider them. He could not object to the answer to the Question being postponed under the circumstances; but he desired to impress on the noble Earl (Earl Cadogan) the great importance of the matter.
§ EARL CADOGANsaid, that when the noble and learned Lord repeated his Question to-morrow he would answer those Questions.
§ Subsequently,
§ EARL CADOGANsaid, he had consulted the Prime Minister, and also the noble Earl opposite (Earl Granville), and he was in a position to state that the Irish Land Bill would be put down for Committee on Monday next.