THE IRISH LAND BILL.
(TO THIS EDITOR Or TDB " SPECTATOR." J
is mistake to suppose that compulsion has been introduced into the Land Bill simply through bad feeling to the minority. It has, in truth, been introduced in order that the owners of untenanted land may be forced to sell for less than the market value,—a very practical reason, you will admit. In the case of untenanted land the same person is owner and occupier, and pays, as such, Income-tax upon Schedules A and B. Now the occupier's interest sells freely throughout Ireland for thirty and forty years' purchase. But for this his interest the owner of un- tenanted land is allowed nothing by the Estates Commis- sioners. Therefore without cattle-driving, boycotting, and attempts to murder this untenanted land , would not come into the market. However, with these aide, the owners of untenanted land, who are almost without exception of the minority, are being expropriated while the lands are being distributed to the adherents of the United Irish League. This being a state of things discreditable to the Government, the Bill seeks to carry out the aims of the United Irish League by course of law and with English credit. The remedy I suggest is this. Geb the lands without compulsion as cheaply as possible, divide them into twenty-acre farms, and then sell the occupying interest to the highest bidder. You will thus take away the motive of crime, and save the pocket of the British taxpayer, because the money obtained by the sale of occupying interest would be available towards building homesteads, which otherwise he must supply. The large farms would be divided all the same, but without legal or illegal compulsion.-,--I am, Sir, &c., AN OLD OROXWELLIAN.
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