TITHE KENT-CHARGE (IRELAND) BILL. (Hansard, 23 July 1900)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND (Lord ASHBOURNE)

I understand that some of my noble friends from Ireland consider that the new clause I propose to move is open to objection. I have intimated to my noble friends that I propose to take the Report stage on Thursday, and I understand they agree that it will be convenient that I should now just state the object of the new clause, and. that they should reserve their opposition until we get to the Report stage. I can state very briefly the purport of this Amendment. The Bill dealt with a state of facts which had taken away and left non-existing all powers of revision of ecclesiastical tithe. I confine myself to that for the purpose of this sub-section. At the time when that was the state of the law in Ireland, power was given to the Land Commission that they might of themselves permit a redemption of tithe without any authorisation from the Treasury at twenty years purchase instead, of twenty-two and a half. It was suggested in the House of Commons by the Chief Secretary that, the circumstances, changing, and the power of revision being resumed, and a substantial reduction in the tithe being the obvious result, it would be only reasonable from the Treasury standpoint, the Executive standpoint, to restore to the Treasury the power of deciding whether they would adhere to the period of 22½ years or take a lesser number of years purchase. The Amendment which I propose merely seeks to restore that power, under the altered circumstances, to the Treasury. By the Irish Land Act of 1896, there 841 being then no power of revising, and therefore no power of reducing tithes, power was given to the Land Commission of themselves to accept twenty years purchase, and no longer was the consent of the Treasury needed for that particular operation of taking less than 22½ years purchase. But now, when tithes are going to be largely and substantially reduced, the Treasury and the Executive think it reasonable that there should not be a reduction on both sides, and that, if there is an absolute power of reduction in the amount of the tithe, it is reasonable to give again to the Treasury the right to be heard on the question whether less than 22½ years shall be taken. I am aware that that does not commend itself to my noble friends, but perhaps they will allow the Amendment to go through now, and raise their objections on the Report stage.