HC Deb 27 November 1882 vol 275 cc125-6
MR. O'CONNOR POWER

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware that numbers of tenants in Mayo and other parts of Ireland are too poor to avail themselves of the Arrears Act; and, whether the Irish Government are prepared to investigate the cases of such tenants, and afford them such relief as may save them from being evicted from their homes and farms?

MR. TREVELYAN

I am afraid the hon. Member asks me to promise what could not be performed. The Irish Government have no power to grant relief to tenants who do not come under the provisions of the Arrears Act.

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it was a fact that magistrates in the county of Longford had refused to take affidavits from tenants seeking to obtain the benefit of the Arrears Act, thereby compelling the tenants in many cases to go long distances in search of a Commissioner of Affidavits, to whom they had to pay a fee; whether the refusal of the magistrates was warranted by the law; and whether, if that were not so, he would endeavour to have the practice discontinued?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

Sir, I am informed, in reply to my inquiries, that magistrates in the County Longford have declined to take affidavits under the Arrears Act, and that in one instance, at all events, a Petty Sessions Clerk in that county, being a Commissioner for taking affidavits, has taken them for his usual fee as such Commissioner. Immediately on learning this, for the first time last Friday, the Lord Lieutenant caused the following telegram to be despatched to each of the Resident Magistrates:— It is His Excellency's desire that you afford every possible facility to tenants desiring to make affidavits under the Arrears Act, and that, so far as possible, you use your influence with the local magistrates to induce them to follow a like course. His Excellency's telegram has, I believe, been already acted on.

MR. PARNELL

asked whether the Lord Lieutenant had sent similar telegrams to the magistrates of other counties where the same difficulty had arisen?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

I am not aware, and I am quite sure the Irish Government are not aware, that the same difficulty has occurred anywhere else; but if the hon. Member tells me where the places are to which he refers I shall take upon myself to see that similar telegrams are sent.