Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/252

244] limited, prospect of improvement in the administration of the Land Acts. But the past was unaffected by the changes enumerated by Lord Ashbourne. The landlords asserted that their grievances had been more or less acknowledged, and that some material set-off ought to be made. The Tithe Rent Charge Bill, introduced (May 12) by the Chief-Secretary, promised an immediate and appreciable diminution in the burdens of many landlords, whose resources had been greatly reduced by the operation of the Land Acts. But that measure was dropped before the end of the session, as those to be benefited by it thought, without sufficient cause. The result was a rally led by Lord Inchiquin in the House of Lords, in support of a resolution declaring that it was incumbent on Parliament to consider the claims of Irish landlords to compensation from the State for the losses they had sustained through the administration of the Land Acts. This was carried against the Government by 39 votes to 34—a rather barren triumph, but probably tending to reinforce the assurance offered by the Government before the division that every effort would be made in the ensuing session to pass the Tithe Rent Charge Bill into law.

Other features of a more cheerful character remain to be noticed. Commerce and agriculture were prosperous during 1899. There was an excellent harvest, with no potato failure, and the "harvest of the sea" was also generally good. The Ulster linen trade did well, and the Belfast shipbuilding industry very well indeed. The annual review of Irish affairs in the Times gave the following gratifying particulars as to the progress of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. "In March, 1898, the number of societies under its control was 243. At the end of 1899 it controlled 420, of which 210 were dairy societies and about 110 agricultural societies. The estimated trade done by the dairy societies during 1899 amounted to over 500,000l., the average price received for butter having been 9·83d. per lb. The total membership of the various societies was approximately 41,000. Lord Monteagle was appointed President of the Agricultural Organisation Society in the place of Mr. Horace Plunkett, who resigned office on his appointment as Vice-President of the new Department of Agriculture and Industries." This new department had been created under an act of 1899, which was passed in view of representations made to Government in the previous year by Irishmen of all parties interested in the material progress of their country. It was to have at its disposal from various sources, including, of course, the Church surplus, nearly 170,000l. a year, and its operations were to be influenced by boards representative in part of the County Councils. It was hoped that it might do much in various ways to promote the enlightened development of agriculture and manufactures, and in doing so to enlist the further co-operation of men of all parties in useful work for their common country.