§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that notices have been served on the officers of the Carrickmacross Union, to make provision for the reception of 45 families, numbering 250 persons, who are to be evicted on one of the Shirley estates in that Union; that the reductions given in the Land Court in November last on Horatio Shirley's estate averaged 43 per cent. and on the estate of S. E. Shirley in January last 35 per cent; and that 28 of these threatened evictions are on the estate of Horatio Shirley, and with a few exceptions all the evictions are for the non-payment of the arrears of the old rack-rents; whether he is also aware that the tenants have endeavoured to effect a settlement, but the landlords in both cases have refused to make any abatement; and, whether, under the circumstances, the Government will give the forces of the Crown to carry out these evictions for the non-payment of rent declared by the Court unjust?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University) (who replied) saidI am informed that it is the case that notices of evictions in respect of 45 families have been served on the Shirley estates, and that the percentages of reductions given in the Land Court are substantially as stated. The number of proposed evictions in respect of the old rent appears to be seven. The tenants, with a few exceptions, have not endeavoured to effect a settlement. They got stays of execution from the County Court Judge, but failed to pay the instalments. No 849 application has been made to the Executive for police protection in regard to the proposed evictions.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)Is it not on account of the old and unreduced rents that the tenants are to be evicted; and will not the Government follow the example set by the right hon. Gentleman (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), and make representation to the landlords on the matter?
§ MR. MADDENasked for Notice of the Question.