§ MR. LALOR (Queen's Co., Leix)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true, as stated in The Times of the 23rd instant, that the Marquess of Lansdowne, Governor General of Canada, commenced the eviction of his Luggacurran, Queen's County, tenants on the 22nd instant, when he evicted Mr. Denis Kilbride; whether he is aware that Mr. Kilbride's rent is £760, and his valuation only £424, which leaves his rent 80 per cent over his valuation; whether the Marquess of Lansdowne only offered a reduction of 20 per cent on Mr. Kilbride's rent, which would still leave the rent 44 per cent over the valuation; whether Mr. Kilbride has a lease of his holding, and is thereby precluded from the benefits of the Laud Courts; and, as many of the other tenants are in a worse position, will he continue to employ the Forces of the Crown in the eviction of those people?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I do not consider it any part of my duty to make inquiries as to particular transactions between individual landlords and their tenants, or to test the accuracy of every newspaper paragraph on such subjects. I think it right to state, however, that information has been voluntarily supplied to me which would seem to show that, while Griffiths' valuation was intended to be below the fair rent, the Marquess of Lansdowne actually receives less than Griffith's valuation, if interest on landlord's outlay be taken into account. The changes in the law which the Government are prepared to recommend will be announced on Thursday next in the House of Lords.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman state from what source he received the information?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo; I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the source; but it is one in which I have confidence.