THE IRISH TENANTS' DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2211, 28 August 1889, Page 2

THE IRISH TENANTS' DEFENCE LEAGUE.

The Irish Parliamentary party held a meeting on July 22 ud, at which the new Tenants' Defence League was formally considered. The following are the rules and regulations as approved by Sir Charles Kusshll and other eminent lawyers. First— The Irish Tenants' Defence League is-founded to assert and maintain the rights of the t.naot farmers of Ireland, now attacked or threatened by aggressive combinations of landlords, and to protect their legal and equitable interest m their holdings by a defensive combiuation among themselves. Second— The objaot of the League is to counteract, by legal means, all combinations of land lords, used to exaot excessive rent ; ti extort unjust arrears, or to impose int quittble terms of purohase, or to stimulate evictions, or m anyway to destroy or imperil the security of tenants m their holdings. Third—ln order tp effeot this purpose tenants throughout Ireland are invited to oontribntftto the Tenants' Defence Fund m fixed proportion to the poor la* valuation of holdings. Fourth— Tenants on any one or more estates combining to assist the league aud subscribing to the Tenants' Defence Fund will ba entitled to the help of the league m q.se of need. Fifth— Branohea of the League will not be formed, but each body of tenants o_m blnlng to.suataia tbe league will appoint, at a meeting'iheld annually for tbe purpose treasurers to oolleot and remit their contributions, and seoretarlea to communicate with the oounoil of the league whenever the oboaalon may arise, and auoh treasurers and secretaries shall be recognised by the OQUhell and by- ihe league m the transactions of all _ff_ira m whloh the Interest of suoh tenants Is directly concerned. Sixth — In the event of any emergency the oounoil of* tbe league may vote the collection of a special levy from the assoo'ated tenants, suoh levy not to exceed the amount of their annual contribution. Seventh— The league will exert itself to Inform the publio, eapeolally In Great Britain, of the proceedings aud alms of the combinations of landlords In Ireland, and will devote particular oare to contested bye elections. Eighth— The league will afford legal advice to tenants m oonneotion with any prooeedlnga Instituted or threatened by or at the lnstanoe of any combination of landlords, or by any landlord who is engaged or concerned In auoh oomblnaat'.on, and lv tb,e event of the eviction of any suoh tenants from their holdings as a result of suoh proceedings, the league, to the full extant, of Ita power, will affrd tnem shelter and support, providea tne ooano'l Is satisfied thit saoh ara willing to refer to arbitration the queet'oua ln dispute between them ani their hndlords. Ninth— The kff.irs of the league shal be dlreoted by a oounoil of 15 members, elected annually from thejr owu body by membara of the league, the firßt oounoil to be elected, within a month from the formation of tbe league. Tenth— Tl*.a admiaaton to membarahlp of t_j9 league shall be determined by the oounoil, Elevonth— The subsoriptlon of membership shall be any aum not less tban £1 per annum, Twelfth—Donors of sums of £10 and upward will be eligible for eleotlon by the council as honorary members of the league. Thirteenth— Meetings of the league will be held from time to time as summoned by tbe oounoil. Fourteenth— The oounoil will make and publish from time to time such further rules and suoh alterations ln the constitution of the league as it may deem to be expedient. A league newspaper saya :— Io England there oonld be absolutely no question as to the legality of the programme, and it Ib believed that even Balfour's lawyers will be unable to bring it within tbe meshes of the law, although they will try very hard to do ao, The most novel feature of the new league is the total absenoe of branches, an ommlsslon deliberately made with a view to Inorease Balfour's dlffioulty, should he ever attempt to grapple with the league. The rule as to honorary membership waß Instituted to meet tbe desires qf many Engllah friends who desire to identify themselves with and give financial support to the new movement.