§ LORD MORRISasked Her Majesty's Government why there had been no final Report from the Commission on the 1583 Financial Relations between Great Britain and Ireland, and whether the evidence on the subject closed in March 1895, with the exception of three witnesses who were examined in November 1895. He said he was aware that considerable delay had arisen from the illness and ultimately the death of his lamented Friend Mr. Childers. It was a matter of notoriety that Mr. Childers had almost completed a Report on this subject. The question had been before the Commission for nearly three years, but during the last year little had been done except the preparation of the Report by Mr. Childers. Since his death he was not aware of any step being taken. The Commission was now without a Chairman, and rumour said that the Commission was to lie up until a nobleman returned from the East. This was a pressing matter, especially as their Lordships would soon have before them subjects in which the financial relations of the two countries were involved; such, for instance, as a Bill relating to the purchase of land in Ireland. It had always been a great grievance in Ireland that they were overtaxed. That over taxation largely arose from the successful exertions to impose taxation upon Ireland by that great financial enemy of Ireland, Mr. Gladstone—[a laugh]—who never missed the opportunity of imposing taxation on Ireland while posing as her political friend. He hoped the Government would bring the matter to a conclusion, and thus prevent a perpetual discussion as to whether Ireland paid too much or too little. He had little doubt we had for a long time been paying too much, and he hoped the question of what she had overpaid would be taken into consideration by the Government at the earliest opportunity.
§ LORD BELPERsaid, the noble Lord had partly answered himself, as he had referred to the unfortunate death of Mr. Childers. No new Chairman had as yet been appointed in the place of that Gentleman, who shortly before his death prepared and sent out to the other members of the Commission for their consideration a draft Report. The evidence closed in March 1895, with the exception of three witnesses who gave evidence in May and June and November. In consequence of the General Election it was found necessary to adjourn the 1584 sittings of the Commission till the autumn. He believed the question of the appointment of another Chairman was only awaiting the return to England from abroad of a noble Lord.