§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can state what was the amount allowed to the Law Life Assurance Society in the case of Patrick Malley on the townland of Rossmuck, E. D. of Turlough, Galway, under the Arrears Act; whether the amount allowed to the landlords included all the ordinary annual rates and taxes, according to the agreement between Malley and the landlords; whether since the award under the Arrears Act, Malley and the other tenants on the estates have been ordered 1142 by a decree at the Oughterard Petty Sessions to pay rates for a period of two years or two years and a half; whether he is aware that the tenants thus treated are in a condition of such distress that they had to walk both to the Sessions and back, a distance of 40 Irish miles, many of them without the price of a single meal and, whether, in case the sum awarded to the landlords under the Arrears Act was calculated on the landlords paying all rates and taxes, the subsequent proceedings for rates against the tenants were legal?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, that he was informed by the Land Commissioners that in the case of Malley £5 was the sum paid, being the amount the landlord was entitled to under the Arrears Act. This sum was irrespective of the arrears of rates and taxes. He believed it was the case that Malley and other persons were subsequently decreed against for arrears of county rates; and he understood that, being poor people, they had to walk a long distance to the Court. He (Mr. Trevelyan) was advised that the magistrates had no option but to give a decree.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORThen, am I to understand that the facts stated in my Question are correct?
§ MR. TREVELYANwas understood to assent.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORsaid, the £5 paid in the case of Malley was more than the landlord was entitled to under the Arrears Act.