§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that the number of appeals lodged re fair rent to the Chief Land Commission during the year ending August, 1890, exceeded the appeals disposed of by 400; whether he is aware that the total number decided during 16 November last was 106, and that at this rate it would take rather more than six years to dispose of the appeals now pending, without taking into account appeals which may hereafter be lodged; and whether he will consider the expediency of inserting provisions in the Land Department Bill to prevent any further business being assigned to the Land Commissioners under the Act of 1881 until they have disposed of the arrears of the work they are now engaged upon?
§ MR. MADDENDuring the year ending August 21, 1890, 4,289 appeals were disposed of by the Chief Land Commission, as against 2,781 appeals lodged. The total number of appeals disposed of in November last was 283, and, as the total number of appeals lodged during the month in question was but 20, it is not anticipated that it would take anything like six years to dispose of the number of cases unheard, which on the 21st of August amounted to 6,412. At the same time, the Government will carefully consider any reasonable suggestion which may be offered for more rapidly disposing of appeals in respect of judicial rents.