Parliament has accomplished little this week, the Land- purchase Bill,
which is its serious business, being impeded as often as the Radicals can manage by amendments or irrelevant discussions. Mr. M'Carthy tried on Friday week to move the adjournment, in order that the House might insist on adding Mr. Michael Davitt's name to the Labour Commission, but failed, only twenty-nine Members rising to support his motion. On Tuesday there was a long academic discussion on the propriety of establishing Parish Councils, which ended in a vote of 175 to 142 against a resolution to that effect; and on Wednesday the Act continuing the pro- hibition of Sunday drinking in Ireland passed its second reading, after the Closure had been voted, by 276 to 31. The Purchase Bill itself hardly advanced, but on Friday week a motion by Mr. Labouchere condemning the Govern- ment was rejected by 232 to 138 ; and on Thursday Mr. Morley brought forward his proposal that no money should issue for the purpose of the Bill until a Local Council had approved such issue,—that, in fact, Local Self-government should precede Land-purchase. The House adjourned the debate on this proposal, which may, as far as the subject-matter is concerned, go on to the Day of Judgment. It will, of course, be stopped by the Closure, but the talking will probably continue through the remainder of the Session, which cannot end till the Bill is passed. The Budget is fixed for next Thursday.
