IRISH TENANTS. OBJECTS OF THEIR NEW LEAGUE. PRINCIPLES ON WHICH IT IS FOUNDED.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 389, 31 July 1889, Page 5

IRISH TENANTS. OBJECTS OF THEIR NEW LEAGUE. PRINCIPLES ON WHICH IT IS FOUNDED.

The Irish Parliamentary party held a meeting on July 22nd, at which the new Tenants' Defence League was formally considered. The following are the rulea and regulations as approved by Sir Charles Russell and other eminent lawyers : First — The Irish Tenants' Defence League is founded to assert and maintain the rights of the tenant farmers of Ireland, now attacked or threatened by aggressive combinations of landlords, and to protect their legal and equitable interest in their holdings by a defensive combination among themselves. Second — The object of the league is to counteract by legal means all combinations of landlords used to exact excessive rent ; to extort unjust arrears, or to impose inequitable terms of purchase, or to stimulate evictions, or in any way to destroy or imperil the security of tenants in their holdings. Third— ln order to effect this purpose tenants throughout Ireland are invited to contribute to the Tenants' Defence, Fund in fixed proportion to the poor law valuation of holdings.

Fourth — Tenants on any one or more estates combining to assist the league and subscribing to the Tenants' Defence Fund, will be entitled to the help ot the league in case of need. Fifth— Branches of the league will not be formed, but each body of tenants combining to sustain the league will appoint, at a meeting held annually for the purpose, treasurers to collect and remit their contributions, and secretaries to communicate with the council of the league whenever the occasion may arise, and such treasurers and secretaries shall be recognised by the council and by the league in the transaction of all affairs in which the interest of such tenants is directly concerned. Sixth. — In the event of any emergency the council of the league may vote the collection of a special levy from the associated tenants, such levy not to exceed the amount of their annual contribution. Seventh — The league will exert itself to inform the public, especially in Great Britain, of the proceedings and aims of the combinations of landlords in Ireland, and will devote particular care to contested bye elections. Eighth — The league will afford legal advice to tenants in connection with any proceedings constituted or threatened by or at the instance of any combination of landlords, or by any landlord who is engaged or concerned in such combination, and in the event of the eviction of any such tenant from their holdings as a result of such proceedings, the league, to the full extent of its power, will afford them shelter and support, provided the council is satisfied that such are willing to rofor to arbitration the questions in dispute between them and their landlords. Ninth — The affairs of the league shall be directed by a council of fifteen members, elected annually from their own body by members of the league, the tirst council to be elected within a month from the formation of the league Tenth — The admission to membership of the league shall be determined by the council. Eleventh— The subscription of membership shall be any sum not less than £1 per annum. Twelth — Donors of sums of £10 and upward will be eligible for election by the council as honorary members of the league. Thirteenth — Meetings of the league will be held from Mine to timo a3 summoned by the council. Fourteenth — The council will make and publish from time to time such further rules and such alterations in the constitution o£ the league as it may deem to be expedient. In England there could be absolutely no question as to the legality of the programme, and it is believed that even Balfour's lawyers will be unable to bring it within the meshes of the law, although they will try very hard to do so. The most novel feature of the new league is the total absence of branches, an omission deliberately made with a view to increase Balfour's difficulty, should he ever attempt to grapple with the league, The rulo as to honotary membership was instituted to meet the desires of many English ftiends who desire to identify themselves with and give financial support to the new movement. After adoption of the rules the following resolution was agreed to unanimously :—: — " That a special Committee, together with Mr Davitt, Mr Biggar, T. Healy, and T. D. Sullivan, be authorised to receive subscriptions and register members of the league pending its first meeting for the election of the Council, and that Mr Campe)lL and Mr P»» Uo loquosiuu i/u auo as bnorary Secretaries of the Committee."