The Irish Land Conference Committee has been recon- structed, with
Lord Dunraven as its president, under the title of the Irish Reform Association, and its programme was formally made public on Tuesday. The aim of the Association is defined as "the promotion of a union of all moderate and progressive opinion, irrespective of creed or class ; to discourage sectarian strife and class animosities ; to co-operate in recreating and promoting industrial enter- prise ; and to advocate all practical measures of reform." The maintenance of the Parliamentary union between Great Britain and Ireland is regarded as essential, but "we believe that such union is compatible with the devolution to Ireland of a larger measure of local government than she now possesses." The Report further condemns the system of financial administration as wasteful and inappreciative of Irish needs, and believes it could be amended by a decentralisa- tion or localisation of Irish finance, which would conduce to efficiency of administration without sacrificing Imperial con- trol; recommends the extension to Ireland of the system of private Bill legislation so successfully worked in Scotland, and the remodelling and co-ordinating of the whole system of education ; and pledges the Association to forwarding the policy of land purchase on the lines of the Land Conference Report, and co-operation in any practical proposals for the suitable provision of the housing of the labouring clasces. We deal with the programme of the new Association in another column, but may say here that while its general aim and spirit are admirable, the effusion with which it has been greeted in Nationalist quarters necessitates a more precise definition of the reference to devolution.
Lord Londonderry addressed a Primrose League meeting at•
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