HC Deb 23 November 1882 vol 274 cc1906-7
MR. GIBSON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Memorandum or Recommendation of the Irish Land Commission submitted to the Irish Government relative to the appointment of official Court Valuers?

MR. TREVELYAN

The recommendations of the Land Commissioners were made partly by private, partly by official Correspondence, and I do not think the documents ought to be laid on the Table of the House.

MR. GIBSON

Why?

MR. TREVELYAN

I can give the right hon. and learned Gentleman a good instance. Last Session hon. Members on the Liberal side of the House took exception to certain Sub-Commissioners being employed in some districts. I corresponded with the Land Commissioners on these Questions, and I am bound to say—looking to the sort of semi-official Correspondence which this class of Questions necessitates—it will be quite impossible to lay the Correspondence on the Table of the House. The Correspondence between the Government and the Land Commissioners is extremely diversified.

MR. GIBSON

Am I to understand, then, that the House and the country will not be given any document or Memorandum whatever to show what was the representation made by the independent Court of the Irish Land Commission to the Irish Executive?

[No reply was given to the Question.]

MR. GIBSON

I will repeat the Question to-morrow.