part I believe neither." It was an admir- | reference to the balances, that his in able attitude for a philosopher but fatal structions had been carried out, and for a Premier. Mr. Arthur Chamberlain said, the other day "The present Government becomes every day more immoral, more retrograde and more dangerous to the material, mental, and moral welfare of the people." That came from Birmingham and what Birmingham said to-day England would say to-morrow. All he could say was that the sooner England said it the better it would be for its welfare, happiness and prosperity. MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.) reminded the House that recently the Government appointed a Commission in Ireland to inquire into the condition of the Irish workhouses. At the time Irish Members pointed out that, in regard to the composition of that Commission, they thought they had been very unfairly treated. Two Government officials were appointed to represent the official side, and one of the hon. Members for Tyrone, who did not represent the Irish Party, was the third member of the Commission. The right hon. Gentleman might say it was too late to do anything to alter the composition of the Commission, because it had already commence its work. He complained that no information appeared to be forthcoming as to where the inquiries of the Commission were going to be held. Careful inquiry was necessary, because he knew of policemen in receipt of substantial salaries who went into Irish workhouses on the plea of being sick, but really for the sake of taking a holiday. He thought the poor people of Ireland ought to be afforded proper opportunities of presenting their grievances before the Commission, and if it was found that the law was as it had been represented it might be changed as soon as possible. He wished to know from the Chief Secretary it the Commission was going to inquire into the treatment of the aged poor in the Irish work houses. Many of those poor old people had been unable to save any money, and had no relatives to maintain them, and they were very often the worst treated of any of the people in the workhouses. As for the Labourers Acts, the Chief Secretary had stated, with those balances had been applied to the credit of the districts where the Labourers Acts had been carried out. He wished the Chief Secretary to say something to indicate that those balances would be applied more to the counties which had done their best to carry out the Act. It He also wished to call attention to the action of the Congested Districts Board. It had already been pointed out that the Congested Districts Board had confined their attention to certain parts of Ireland. There were certain portions of the County of Kerry which were as much in need of assistance from the Congested Districts Board as any other part of Ireland. Nothing had been done in Kerry except the making of a few rules. A discussion had already taken place in regard to education in Ireland, and as to the application of the money set aside for that purpose. It was clearly apparent that a substantial portion of that money ought to be set apart for primary education in Ireland. The least inquiry on the part of the Chief Secretary would enable him to see that primary education in Ireland was sadly in need of assistance. There were many Irish Members deeply concerned in primary education in Ireland. was the only form of education which could be taken advantage of by a large majority of the young people of the country, and for that reason he trusted that the right hon. Gentleman would regard it as his prime and principal concern to make the primary schools as efficient as they ought to be. Referring to the question of railway rates the hon. Member said it had been stated that the Board of Agriculture acted when a complaint was made to them. He thought it should be the function of the Board to see that reasonable rates were charged wi hout waiting for complaints. The Great Southern and Western Company were making a substantial profit over a large portion of their line, but there were parts where by manipulation they were able to show that they were working at a loss, and the poor ratepayers were made to pay in consequence. He urged that something should be done in this matter. MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.) said he believed the right hon. Gentleman was perfectly sincere in the action he had taken to bring about a better state of affairs in Ireland, and in his desire to introduce peace where there had been war. There were some of the parties to that war who did not seem to be desirous to meet the right hon. Gentleman in that matter. In his own constituency there was a property of notoriety. It was known as the Massereene estate. Notwithstanding the trouble which had taken place there between the landlord, the agents, and the tenants, he found that the present agent on the estate was proceeding with an eviction. This seemed a very hard case indeed. It was that of a widow, seventy years of age, who, after a long life of labour and struggle in her holding on this estate, found herself, when almost on her deathbed, threatened with eviction. He did not know whether the right hon. Gentleman could do anything in the matter. He believed that the rent had been paid in full for the past twelve years, but it appeared that on account of some arrears that had accrued, possibly in the famine years, she had been deprived of the benefits of the various Acts passed by this House for the relief of cases like hers. Now it was only a doctor's certificate that prevented the forces of the Crown from stepping in and taking her from her home to the workhouse, there to spend the remainder of her days as a pauper at the expense of the rates. He should like very much if the right hon. Gentleman would either by friendly representation to the landlord or by withholding the services of the forces of the Crown put a stop to what was a crying evil and a scandal. good results. With regard to the matter to which the hon. Member for East Kerry had drawn attention, he failed to notice any new point raised which was not already present to his mind, or to that of some of his colleagues. The matters referred to, and many others, were receiving his attention. DR. THOMPSON (Monaghan, N.) asked whether the Viceregal Commission would have power to inquire into the grievances of dispensary officers. It was most important that inquiry should be allowed. MR. WYNDHAM said that he had within the last ten days stated that the Commission would not take evidence upon that point, and he thought his position in that matter was a sound one. Until they knew what the facts were in regard to accommodation, and what savings could be affected by amalgamation of unions, and whether one could be devoted to the aged and another to the children, it must be clear that no useful purpose would be served by attempting to anticipate on the last day of the session a conclusion which at present could not possibly be arrived at. DR. THOMPSON said that did not affect the Question he had asked. MR. WYNDHAM said it did indeed. The question of the balances under the Labourers Acts would also receive his attention. He would also consider whether it was possible to have the materials collected for the Local Government Board Report in order that the Report might be presented at an earlier and more convenient date to Parliament. As to the Agricultural Board, that was a statutory body and could only act under statute when a representation was made to it. This was not the occasion on THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRE which to consider whether the AgriLAND (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover) said the cultural Department Act should be hon. Member for South Louth was aware amended. He did not think that it was. of the fact that the Government could not It would be far more to the point if hon. intervene between parties where a legal Members who had complaints to make, debt was due. All he could say was that under the Land Purchase Act caretakers brought specific cases against specific could purchase, and he hoped that the railways to the notice of the Department, general effect of the Act would induce or would communicate with himself, them to do so. The Executive Govern- and they would be attended to. ment could not intervene in questions when they arose as between parties in Ireland, nor would such intervention, if possible, be likely to be attended with MR. DELANY (Queen's Co. Ossory) said that he wished to support his hon. friend the Member for Kerry. What he asked was, that this money should not be diverted from the pur- possible to make other arrangements poses for which it was originally attached, before Parliament met again. The viz., to aid the rates in the erection of present position was wholly ridiculous. cottages for agricultural labourers. It should be distributed in fair pro- THE TREASURY (Mr. ELLIOT, Durham) THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO portion amongst the various unions where the Act was to come into opera-him notice he would have been able to said that if the hon. Gentleman had given tion. He hoped that the right hon. Gentleman would not make up his mind on the matter of the railway schemes until the whole facts had been laid before him. MR. P. J. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.) asked if Constable Murphy, regarding whose conduct he had put a Question to the Chief Secretary, would be cautioned to behave himself while stationed at Nenagh. If not, he would ask that the constable be transferred to the North of Ireland or elsewhere. *MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield) said he wished to mention a matter in connection with the administration of Customs. When the coal tax was in Committee, he showed how the tax was evaded, and how the coalowners were perfectly entitled to evade it. The operation of the coal tax was simple. If small coal was sold at 68. a tou, and large coal at 12s. 6d. a ton, no tax was paid. After his speech, the Commissioner of Customs inquired into the operations of two companies with which he was connected. Fortunately, one company did not ship any small coal at all, and in the other company he had nothing to do with the sales of coal, but he was still awaiting the result of the inquisition into other panies. He saw the Commissioner of Customs, who told him that he entitled to sell without paying the tax for small coal at 6s. and large coal at 12s. 6d. if those were the current prices; but that he must not have in his mind the fact that he was evading the tax. He did not keep his commercial conscience in his boots; he took the law as he found it. The position was that he might evade the law, but that he must not say he was evading it. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury told him how much he was obliged to him for pointing the matter out; and then followed an inquisition into his own affairs. He would ask the Financial Secretary whether it would be com was He would give him some explanation. bring the whole matter before the Commissioner of Customs, and see how it stood. When next session arrived, or perhaps before, he would be able to give the hon. Gentleman a full explanation. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON, Londonderry, N.) said in reply to the hon. Member for North Tipperary he could assure him that Constable Murphy was severely reprimanded, and transferred to another part of the country. That was the best way of preventing him from repeating the conduct for which he was reprimanded. Question put, and agreed to. Bill read the third time, and passed. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. That they have agreed to Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, without Amendment. Message to attend the Lords Commissioners. The House went; and the Royal Assent was given to a number of Bil's. (See page 1282.) And afterwards His Majesty's most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR (in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands), Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read. After which the Lord Chancellor said- By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's name, and in obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Monday the Second day of November next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Monday the Second day of November next. APPENDICES. |