The House of Commons on Wednesday discussed the Evicted Tenants
Bill in Committee, and progress was dis- tinctly slow. Mr. Moore asked the Chief Secretary for assurances that the number of evicted tenants to be rein- stated should not be more than two thousand, and that not more than eighty thousand acres should be acquired under the Act. Mr. Birrell refused to bind himself, but said he had good reason to think that Mr. Moore's figures would not he exceeded. As to whether evicted tenants should be replaced on their old holdings, the Estates Commissioners must be allowed to use their discretion. Mr. Long argued that Mr. Birrelrs statement seriously altered the situation, as it was now clear that the discretion of the Commissioners was to be unrestricted and the amount of land purchasable unlimited. Mr. Campbell moved that compulsory acquisition should be confined to untenanted land. In 1903 it was understood that compulsion would not be used against planters, and Lord Crewe had recently spoken in the same sense. Mr. Birrell declared that the Bill would be incomplete if tenanted land could not be acquired in suitable cases. He agreed that it would be monstrous in some cases to turn out a bonctfide planter against his will, but some planters were not bond-fide farmers, and it would be no injustice to remove them. Mr. Balfour appealed to Mr. Birrell at least to put into the Bill words for the guidance of the Commissioners, making it clear that when they had to choose between an occupying tenant and an evicted tenant, the occupier should have the right to remain in his holding. The rest of the discussion turned upon the granting of compulsory powers to the Commissioners. The Government, we regret to say, made no concessions.
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