IRISH LAND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 1 October 1909, Page 7

IRISH LAND.

COMPULSORY RESUMPTION CLAUSES. DEBATE IN THE LORDS. REJECTION OF THE BILL MOVED. 1 (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright.) . London, September 29. > The debate ion tho second reading of Mr. Birrell's Irish . Land Purchase Bill has' begun in the Houso'of Lords. ' . . Tho Earl; of Crewe, Colonial Seoretary, on behalf .of the Government, explained that the compulsory purchase proposals were. intended to bo . of limited application. : The Earl of Dunraven (who is chairman of the Irish Reform Association und a leader of the devolution movement) moved the rejection of the Bill, on the. ground that its financial basis would'bo disastrous to Ireland. ; . The Marquis of Lansdowne, Opposition leader in the :Lords, severely, criticised the Bill, but , offered to join with tho Government in making it .a : reasonable , measnre by, substantial amendments in'committee., ; He denied the need : of .adding that the Irish Land Commissioners already, had more,.land than 1 they could handle or pay .for.-, > SECOND READING CARRIED. . LIMITED EXERCISE Of COMPULSION.' ' PRUNING IN COMMITTEE. : , (Rec. September- 30,', 10.40', p.m.) London, September 30. In the House of Lords, the Irish Land Purchase Bill, was/read a second timo without a division. Lord Dunraven's, amendment to' reject it was .withdrawn. , ■ Agrarian Socialism.. .. • Lord . Curzon, urged '.'that in committee.; the Lords ; should : mako a . careful examination of tho Bill m the interests of tho-British tax-: payer,' nptin ;• whom an' enormous ' financial' responsibility was .thrown. The Bill meant an . agrarian .revolution as important as M any , revolution that mighty be expected in the Budget. The underlying principles were Socialistic'- and' could ' not b'o; confined'' to Ireland.' Events ... subsequent to , its . passage :; had not detracted from tho value of Mr,. Wyndham's Irish.Land Purchnso Act, of 1903,' which was ' an; almost solitary instance .of - legislation; by agreement. .He was 'a .'great believer, in round-the-table .conferences, which might usefully be applied to'sucK; questions as . education, the liquor traffic, extension of. the' suffrage and redistribution. The Government, added Lord Curzon, had not.,maintained - continuity of 4 policy' with re-,-gard; to . Ireland,', owing to the exigencies of, , the. Irish ; partyit was not in. the interest of tho latter to seo that land questions: were, settled, amicably and easily.' Under; the Bill a vast system 'of expropriation'would be intifoduced, and' it foreshadowed -.the 'scattering of evicted landlords .broadcast over, Ireland. :Mr. Wyndham's Act could be probably worked if the. wero provided.: He' hoped the. House ,of, Lords:would .'alter tho'Bill with, no trembling hand. . — Compulsion to Replaco Amicablo Agreement,, v.Lord, MacDonneU (formerly. Uhder-Seerotary : to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland) considered that the iutrodnction pf .compulsion' in the purchase of laiid .would -terminate ' amicable dealings.- If sent ;to committeo tho' Bill could be made a,; useful .'supplemcht to Mr. Wyndham's .Act.;.',: '.:;'y v'.--i' After other' speeches' had been.- made, •Lord Crewe (Lord Privy , Seal, and Liberal leader tho Lords) remarked that. to increaso: or diminish; or vary a charge on,the public funds had not Hitherto been,considered;to' fall within the province of : the House; of Lords.' - : ■ ' ' Lord Loreburn (Lord High Chancellor) said , that tho Government would bo willing 'to detho Jiill tho proposed .limited excrciso 1 1'■ ® 5 P® l y er f , .°f. compulsory' purchWe.'; .' f : WHAT ,WILL THE LORDS DO WITH THE , BILL? , • "DOGS OF WAR" , riJ\ ! t 'oni '. tho Government's •Jin! 11 ■ Pu r cl>nso Hi"; Tho Times"' wysIho mtinnor in which the Government have chosen to ..forco this. Bill through the Coratoons must, inevitably deprive it of all .moral authority t when.-it .leaves- that 'Assembly. The Lords will so,doubt 'do 1 thoir when it.reaches': them,:: and-part of. that' duty 'will bei of, course, to examine,the provisions which Mr.Birrell- and his colleagues: will hot allow tho House of; Commons, to investigate. • Wo do not' think' that ; they will be deterred from-it by' the. threats .which are being freely, uttered in • some ' Nationalist quarters, and .to ' which" the Chief contrives. to lend a -'measure of prophotio support." State of Ireland. 11 .. Refornng to Mr. Birroll's romarks in tho Commons, ."The. Times" adds: "He said that he . did: not'; boast of, the., fact,' .but still. be rhetorically " asked .tho ...House'- whether it was' nothing that murder ho' longer stalks through the land and that midnight outrage and crimo are ,a, rare occurrence. That , really seems', rather :a„ Btrahge ground for the responsible head of the Executiyo in a part of the United 'Kingdom, to; plume himself ,uponi ; . Thero, has 'ieen 0; decrease in i crime .and outrage in Ireland within the last few months—though' three bad; offences' were reported- from Galway tho other. .organised .'boycotting stillexists throughout ;, wide, districts.,'; 'But Mr. Dillon's recent language,. to , say nothing of the records ,of his office'and bis own knowledge of Irish party ; tactics,, ought, to have , enlightened Mr.'Birrell as to sorae of the causes of - this falling; Off.'.Mr.-'Dillon has not yet' ■ let -slip the dogs' of war I ,'as he has intimatedthat he may; do, should not a Land Bill to his mind become law.. They are'at, heel, and this : is not; the .time to .let thera slip. The long days arc a kind of 'close season' for the' victims.'pf the' League's \warrdogs; arid then tho Bill , and the Govoriinient have to. get a-chance. Possible-Modification. "If the Bill is, modified in a fashion of which ' ;the;' League disapiiroves.' the dogs - can be let slip.,; Mr. 1 Birrelf, who has; just disavowed his old'passion for 'Edward 111,' and has under-' taken, henceforth -'not .to . bind more :cattledrivers to. the peace than he can help, thay be trusted - not; to' hunt, or chastise the dogs severely."' He has' already taken up his position for. turning; round iipon his; political opponents and proclaiming: tbat they have made-tne government' of' Ireland impossible by mutilating his agrarian scheme,'and his- Irish confederates are ready to back him up. The plot is transparent—but, perhaps, it; is good enough for" . "certain Radical -British .voters." ■