It luck, but he was not to bear his share of | always had been, made by the tenants, his ill fortune. Was such a proposition and not by the landlords. Why then just, or was it calculated to encourage should not the poor tenants in Ireland the tenant in his industry. He said on have the benefit of the doubt in this the contrary, that to adopt such a prin- matter. With regard to the Ulster ciple would be to penalise industry tenants, very strong feeling existed in amongst Irish tenants and to prevent Ulster. They had been informed by the them from investing their capital and Commissioners who had administered the labour in the land. Up to now the Irish Act in Ulster, that in Ulster, practically tenants had been absolutely deprived of speaking, the Ulster tenant was comall the advantages that had resulted from pelled to prove that he held under the their outlay. It was in the interests of custom. He did not propose to go at the tenants and of the country, and it any length into the details of the other certainly was not against the interests of provisions of the Bill, which, of course, the landlords, that the former should be would be discussed in Committee. secured the fruits of their investment of would be impossible, after listening to so capital. There was another question of lengthy a speech, and before they had very great importance to which he read the Bill carefully, to say whether desired to draw the attention of the certain exclusions were satisfactory. House, and that related to the There was one point, however, in regard subject of the presumption with regard to which the right hon. Gentleman's to who had effected the improve-statement was very unsatisfactory, and ments. He must say that upon this that was the question of town parks. He point the Measure would be received did not understand why they should be with great disappointment in Ireland. excluded from the operation of the Act. He knew that tens of thousands of The Cowper Commission recommended pounds had been invested by the Irish tenants in their land without their having any record of the fact, and by all principles of moral law the value of those improvements ought to be vested in the tenants. They were, however, told that the onus of proving that they had effected improvements ought to be thrown upon the tenants. Commission after commission had recommended that all improvements should be treated prima facie as though they were the tenants, improvements. The Commission of 1843, which certainly was not a tenants' commission, it being representative of the MR. DILLON said, in the whole of landlords' interests, had reported that Ireland there was no land which had the improvements in Ireland of that been so immensely improved at the exday were the work of the tenants and pense of the occupiers as had town parks. not of the landlords. In that case he He did not see why these occupiers asked why the tenants should not have should not be entitled to enjoy the same right of presumption. The rich land-protection as the country farmers, lords would in all probability have kept always reserving to the landlord the a record of their expenditure upon increased rent he was entitled to ask on improvements if they had made any, account of the proximity to the town. whereas the poor tenants would be most There never had been in the world any unlikely to have kept such a record. set of towns so barbarously treated as the The landlord would of necessity be far Irish towns had been by the Irish landmore capable of proving his case, there- lords. The idea that they should fore the presumption ought to be un- have the power of resuming the town limited in favour of the tenant. It was parks for the benefit of the town notoriously the fact, and had been stated people, and not for their own beneby Earl Cowper in the House of Lords, fit was the greatest hypocrisy. that improvements in Ireland were, and With regard to the changes in procedure, that no question of town parks should be allowed to arise in respect of a town of less than 30,000 inhabitants; then in 1887 the Tory Government proposed a limit of 2,000 inhabitants, and now the right hon. Gentleman, as far as he could understand, proposed to make it lower still. Of course they all knew that there was a provision in the Bill giving to the landlord ample power to resume the town parks if they were required for an extension. MR. GERALD BALFOUR: Not for accommodation? MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I said nothing about the prices likely to be paid under this scheme. of most of them he strongly approved; should be taken to inaugurate a system but as they were technical in character of compulsory sale, and he could not he would leave the discussion of them to share the alarm of the right hon. Gentlemembers of the legal profession. One men at the idea of compulsory sales change set forth was that the value at unless it were accompanied by machinery starting was to be ascertained and im- for securing a fair price. The right hon. provements allowed for, and what was Gentleman said the Irish Church Comdesirable was that the statement of value missioners had sold with celerity the should be made evidence in Court. Most farms committed to their care; but so of the provisions suggested with regard well safe-guarded were the interests of to purchase would he was sure secure the landlords that the farms were sold support from all sides. Alluding to the at an average of 22 years' purchase. It Bill of 1881 the right hon. Gentleman was an outrage to talk of such a price as said it was an agrarian revolution; so it that now; and if the Government had was; and it was unfortunate that they a plan for selling estates he hoped it could not have justice done without revo- would be a popular one. lution. The right hon. Gentleman stated that from 1881 the Unionist Party had had a policy which was the substitution for dual ownership of peasant proprietor- MR. DILLON continued that the ship. But he remembered the time when observations of the right hon. Gentleman they opposed tooth and nail every pro- would be received with alarm, because position of the kind. That principle, he quoted the prices obtained, and unless when first introduced, was opposed by he had some idea of realising them again the Tory Party in every possible way. It it was difficult to see the point of his was first proposed by that much abused argument, which was apparently that as organisation, the Irish National League, landlords had previously got 22 years' The Nationalists had always held that purchase they would again get a high there would never be peace and pros- price. Let him consult the unfortunate perity in Ireland until landlordism was tenants who had bought, ascertain brought to an end. Therefore they had their view of their position, and see always supported and would support any whether it came up to the pictures well-considered measure of purchase. of the earthly paradise he described. He would not go into the details of The tenants were in a state of desperapurchase except in answer to what was tion and many of the Irish Members had said about the estates which were in the received petitions to come to their relief. Land Judges' Court. The people of The Chief Secretary stated that the Land Ireland were justly discontented with Commission was to report to the Judges the action of that Court. It had ceased of the Land Court on what terms they to be a Court to facilitate the sale and thought these estates should be sold. transfer of land in Ireland because it Seeing how that Commission was comhad refused to sell estates, and it had posed it could not be expected that become a machinery for the maintenance Nationalists would have much confidence of the price of land by refusing to allow in it to settle the matter. He did not estates to go on the market. A Court base his views as to the competence of set up for the sale of the estates of bank- the Land Commission to fix rents or rupts had become choked and held 1,500 their right to the confidence of the estates with a rental of £600,000, ex- people on his own opinion, but on that cluding the estates of minors. Why was of the Member for South Tyrone. this? Because at a certain period, in the That hon. Member asked anyone who interests of landowners, the Court knew anything about Ireland to imagine refused to sell; it exercised a jurisdiction an Irish tenant standing before such a never contemplated, that of withdrawing tribunal. Where was he to look for estates from compulsory sale if it con- sympathy? Mr. Justice Bewley he said sidered that fair prices were not offered. was an accomplished lawyer, and he The judges had delivered orations from impeached neither his rectitude nor the Bench declaring that the prices that ability. Mr. Wrench was simply were offered they could not accept. He a land agent. Mr. Fitzgerald's aphad always advocated that measures pointment as Chief Commissioner was Mr. Dillon. received in Ulster with dismay. In Bill to further amend the Law relating Armagh and Tyrone, where he was to the Occupation and Ownership of were in revolt Land in Ireland, and for other purposes known, the tenants against such a man. "The fact that the Irish landlords, aided by the evil brood of high placed lawyers which infested Dublin Castle, had succeeded in capturing the tenants' seat on the Commission would not be forgotten in Ulster. " relating thereto, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Gerald Balfour, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. AttorneyGeneral for Ireland; presented accordingly, and read 1o; to be read 2o upon Monday, 22nd April, and to be printed. -[Bill 177.j MR. T. M. HEALY asked if it was intended to make effective progress with the Bill on the 22nd. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY was afraid he could not hold out any hope that the Bill would be effectively proceeded with on the 22nd, nor could he fix any time just now at which [Nationalist cheers.] The most urgent MILITARY MANEUVRES BILL. Committee deferred till To-morrow SUPPLY (9TH APRIL). CIVIL SERVICES AND REVENUE DEPARTMENTS, 1896-7. be done. As to the guarantee deposit, at Two of the clock. REVENUE DEPARTMENTS. 1. "That a sum, not exceeding £773,712, be granted to Her Majesty to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1897, for the salaries and expenses of the Customs Department." Resolution read a second time. MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.) drew attention to the case of Andrew Murray, who was formerly in the Customs Department. Mr. Murray joined the service in 1878, and for eight years afterwards he was employed in clerical work. Then, without any reason being given to THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA- him, he was transferred to Dublin and SURY hoped that hon. Members would put on totally different work to that to now allow the present stage of the Bill which he had been accustomed. Between to be taken. The Chief Secretary had the 27th March and 24th September, a given a clear exposition of the Measure, period of seven months, he was actually but owing to its necessarily complicated for a greater portion of the time, on duty character it was absolutely impossible for during the whole 24 hours of each day. hon. Members to understand the whole Under these circumstances it was bearing of the proposals until they had wonder the gentleman's health broke the print before them. ["Hear, hear!"] down. He applied to be relieved no from such distressing occupation, but He earnestly hoped the right hon. Genthe only reply he received was a tleman would consider the facts he had threat of instant dismissal, which brought before him and the few remarks was subsequently carried into effect. he had made, especially as he had no After an Inquiry had been held by the personal feeling whatever in bringing Department, he was compelled to leave forward the matter. He asked for no at a time when there were seven months' favour, but simply that justice might be salary due to him. He had not received done to this man by his case receiving a any of the salary due to him since that fair hearing. To this, after all, every time, and no inquiry had been held into public servant was entitled. Moreover, the reasons for his dismissal. Questions he was sure that if men in any service had been asked in the House as to this were confident that no action would be man's case, and the responsible Minister taken against them except after full and had invariably informed them that it fair investigation by their superiors, they was not the intention of the Department would fulfil their duties all the better in to consider Mr. Murray's grievance, or consequence. So in this case, if the to pay him his salary, or to re-employ right hon. Gentleman consented to inhim. He understood Mr. Murray was vestigate the complaint of Mr. Murray, an officer of considerable ability, and it would not fail to have a good effect that among other testimonials to his on the service, for it was felt that this character which he could produce, was man was labouring under considerable one from Mr. Horace A. D. Seymour, who at the time of his employment was Deputy Chairman of the Board of Customs, and who was now, he thought, Deputy Master of the Mint. If Mr. Murray had not some claim on the Department, he was quite sure that that officer would not have given him a testi- MR. HENRY KIMBER (Wandsmonial. He thought it was only fair worth) said, he desired to bring under and reasonable that when a Department the attention of the right hon. Gentletook the serious step of dismissing a man man the case of the abstractors in the whose health had broken down in the Customs. These men were a hardservice of the State, at least some in- working and very deserving class of the quiry should be held into the reasons for public service, and they were labouring the dismissal, and that was all he asked. under a sense of injustice. The grievHe asked the responsible Minister in this ances of the men might be summarised case to give some assurance to the House under three heads-no promotion, unthat he would institute an Inquiry to fair increment in remuneration, and inascertain most thoroughly and carefully justice in regard to sick leave. In 1895 whether the reasons for this gentleman's they presented a petiton setting forth dismissal were adequate and just. He their complaints, but no satisfactory understood there was a Treasury Minute action was taken upon it. He now of the 27th of August 1889, under again appealed to the right hon. Genwhich this gentleman could be restored tleman to consider the case of the men, to his office. Though he did not profess and hoped he should receive a favourto know very much about the intrica-able answer. injustice. In these circumstances he trusted he should receive an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that, notwithsanding what had been previously done in the matter he would himself fully investigate the case and give the aggrieved man a hearing. cies of the Customs rules, or of the *MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea) said, regulations under which a man could be that by inadvertence the other night taken on or put off the public service, they were unable to discuss at any he thought he was quite within his length the Customs Vote. He did not rights, as a Member of that House, and rise now to advocate the claims of any as the gentleman had to some extent the particular section of the Customs men, claim of a constituent upon him, in bringing the case forward, and he earnestly hoped that the right hon. Gentleman would give that consideration to the matter which would entitle him to justice at the hands of the Department. Mr. J. P. Farreil. but to call attention to what he considered to be a grievance of the Department as a whole. On the 11th of February, an advertisement appeared in the papers requesting that smart commercial clerks between the ages of 23 and 30 should apply to the Principal of the leave. Although there were 4,400 emStatistical Department, and they would ployés in the Customs, these 70 or 80 stand a chance of receiving temporary men were placed on a different position employment at 30s. per week. Three from the others. He hoped the right hundred and fifty applications were re- hon. Gentleman would see his way to ceived, and of the persons actually make some compensation to these clerks. engaged, seven had not passed the Civil *THE SECRETARY TO THE TREAService examination, and of this seven SURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston) several did not even comply with age said, that if the hon. Member for Cavan qualification. Much to the surprise laid before him the details of the disof everyone in the Department, and missal of Mr. Murray he would have the Members of the House, the whole matter investigated. Complaint whole of the seven not only had not had been made that no reply had been passed, but could not pass the examina- received by the abstractors to the repretion, and four of them were relatives of sentations which they had laid before the the chief clerks and principal officers in Treasury 15 months ago. The reason the Customs Department. That savoured was that one of the rules of the service, somewhat of a job. A distinguishing framed in the interest of discipline, profeature of our Civil Service was that men vided that representations from Civil who entered it had to pass an equal, fair, servants must come to the Treasury and unimpeachable examination, and his through the heads of their Department. opinion was that we would regret the day Therefore the complaint of the abstracwhen that principle was broken down. tors was sent by the Treasury to the It should be impossible for men in the Commissioners, who seem to be of opinion Department to job their relatives in. that there was not much in the matter. The head of the Department, with whom However, the three complaints of the he had communicated, had practically abstractors in regard to sick leave, readmitted that his statement and charges duction of their salaries on promotion to were true, and he now asked the Secre- second division clerkships, and the small tary to the Treasury, who in the last yearly increment of their salaries had Session of Parliament was a well known been gone into thoroughly. A Treasury opponent of nepotism, jobbery, and anything which savoured of favouritism, to undertake that there should be a fair field and no favour. Relations were best kept apart. It was good in domestic life, and it would also be good in Government Departments. He hoped the Secretary to the Treasury would see that nepotism ceased. Minute would be issued forthwith which would have the effect of placing the abstractors in regard to sick leave in the same position as the other Civil servants. He admitted that as those men were only promoted for signal service, they ought not to be penalised on their promotion, and therefore, while he was not in a position to give a definite promise on the CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.) subject, he was inclined to take the view desired to make an appeal on behalf of a that the reduction should be abolished. small and deserving class, the copyists But if that were done it would probably and the abstractors in the Customs. It lead to more stringency in the promotion was admitted that these men required a of abstractors. Only men of exceptioncertain amount of special training. That able ability could be promoted in future, had been admitted, for, in reply to a so that the concession might have the question, the right hon. Gentleman said effect of keeping down men who, under the work of this office required some pre- the existing system, might get promoliminary training. Therefore, these tion into the second division. He officers were officers who had a certain thought the abstractors had no grounds amount of training. There were three for their third complaint-namely, that points on which they complained the first was that they were entirely debarred from promotion. The second cause of complaint was that the increment was so small that they could never rise to the position held by second division clerks, and the third complaint was as to sick their yearly increment of salary was only £2 10s. as compared with £5 in the case of boy copyists; for, while as a rule the abstractors started at £91 a year, the boy copyists started only at £55 a year. There was rather an important point raised by the hon. Member for |