§ 1."That a sum, not exceeding £73,214, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1890, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Irish Land Commission."
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLWhen this Vote was under discussion I asked the Chief Secretary for information as to the purchase by 16 tenants in the County of Galway of their holdings. The purchase price was at the rate of 32J years' rent, and the explanation given was that a certain amount of grass land had been added to each of the holdings. Now, I want to know what were the rents formerly paid, what are to be the annual instalments, and what is the acreage added to each farm; also to whom the Irish Land Commission paid the money?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the hon. Member will put a question down on the Paper I will get him the information.
§ MR. FLYNNI should like to know why do not the Government, in appointing the Land Commissions, nominate some representatives of the farmers, instead of merely landlords and landlords' agents. Will the Government promise in future appointments to nominate practical farmers—even from the North of Ireland?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension on this matter if he thinks the tenant farmers are unrepresented. It has been the effort of the Government to appoint as Sub-Commissioners men who are thoroughly acquainted with agricultural matters, and of known impartiality.
§ Resolution agreed to.