A significant gathering of the Limerick and Clare Farmers’ Club took place on Saturday, where attendees discussed crucial resolutions concerning the Land Purchase Act. The meeting, presided over by Mr Patrick Finucane, saw the members deliberating on resolutions that had been carefully drafted by a committee.
The first resolution aimed to address the issue of exorbitant rents set by the Land Sub Commission during a period of economic downturn for farmers. The resolution implored the Irish Parliamentary Party to advocate for reform within the Irish Land Commission, highlighting concerns about the equitable nature of rent determinations. The resolution called for a revision of rents that had been set by landlord-partisan members of the Commission, emphasizing the need for fairness and justice.
In the course of the discussion, Mr Coll proposed a slight amendment to the first resolution, suggesting that the judicial term of 15 years be reduced to five years. This change would lead to automatically fixed rents based on the fluctuation of agricultural prices, aiming to balance the conditions between landlords and tenants. The proposed revision would prevent the abuse of the 15-year judicial term system, which had often led to landlords pressuring tenants to accept reduced prices for early sales.
The second resolution discussed the failure of the conciliation policy due to high prices demanded by landlords. The resolution called on Irish Parliamentary Party members to introduce a universal compulsory land purchase bill at the earliest opportunity. In the event that such a bill couldn’t be passed, the resolution proposed limiting the bonus to purchases made within one year and suggested basing the bill on the Balfour Act with decadal reductions.
Amidst the debate, Mr Coll expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a compulsory land purchase bill, suggesting that co-operation and organization could lead to smoother implementation of the Land Purchase Act. The members eventually adopted an amended version of the second resolution, reflecting their collective stance on the matter.
Additionally, the members reiterated their earlier expression of disappointment regarding the conciliatory arrangement for land transfer, noting the landlords’ harsh methods and high rent demands during an economic downturn. They criticized the landlords’ resistance to reasonable prices for their interests, predicting that this approach would negatively impact Ireland’s future due to increased foreign competition and the inability of tenants to meet annuity payments.
Concluding the meeting, it was agreed to send copies of the resolutions to prominent individuals, including the Chief Secretary for Ireland, members of the Irish Parliamentary Party, the County Council, and various District Councils.
The meeting underscored the farmers’ concerns about rent fairness, land purchase policies, and the need for urgent reforms. The resolutions served as a collective voice in urging the Irish Party to address these critical issues affecting the farming community.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 06 February 1906
