HC Deb 20 March 1884 vol 286 cc294-6
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will cause inquiry to be made respecting the statements in the following paragraph taken from The Leinster Leader of Saturday the 15th instant:— Last week we stated publicly that the decisions in the eases heard al the last sitting in Naas had not been given. Several times our representatives made inquiry of the responsible officer of the Sub-Commission, and on every occasion the answer was that the cases had not been decided. Yesterday we learned with astonishment that the judgments in these important cases had been given at the Birr sitting more than a fortnight before. They had been withheld from our reporter; they appeared in no newspaper; how they were given we do not know. But this is not all. They were not communicated to the tenants, nor to the tenants' solicitor. Appeals against the decisions of the Sub-Commissioners must be lodged within a month. How are tenants to know what judgments have been given in their cases; and, if he will take steps to secure that the judgments shall be promptly made known to the parties?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the Land Commission inform me that the Deputy Registrar of the Sub-Commission could not have said that the cases mentioned were not decided, and it was improbable that he did so. In any case it is no part of the duty of the Deputy Registrar to inform the Press of the Sub-Commissioners' decisions. He is bound to communicate them to the persons interested, in the manner laid down in the Commissioners' regulations, and of which the persons concerned are fully informed. With regard to the time for appealing, although it is limited to a month, the Land Commissioners have power to extend it; and they would do so in any case on being satisfied that there had been a neglect of duty on the part of the Deputy Registrar in notifying the Sub-Commissioners' decision. But, as I have said, there is no obligation on the part of the Deputy Registrar to notify the Sub-Commissioners' decisions.

MR. O'BRIEN

said, that surely it was not the duty of the Registrar of the Sub-Commissioners to suppress those facts from the knowledge of the Press.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked if the decisions were notified to the solicitor for the tenants?

MR. TREVELYAN

said, that if any complaint were made that they were notified, and it was ascertained that the Deputy Registrar neglected his duty, in such a case the time for appealing would be extended.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

requested the right hon. Gentleman to answer the last clause of his original Question.

MR. TREVELYAN

There is nothing to show that the Deputy Registrar has neglected his duty. It is perfectly competent for the tenants and their soli- citors to proceed in the manner indicated in my answer.