HC Deb 19 February 1880 vol 250 cc916-7
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he is aware that at the first extraordinary Presentment Sessions at Newcastle West, in the county of Limerick, on Saturday last, a large number of Catholic clergymen attended to complain that, notwithstanding the extreme destitution of the people, not a single landlord had as yet made use of the facilities offered by the Government for obtaining loans to be spent in the employment of the destitute poor?

MR. J. LOWTHER

Sir, I only got the Notice yesterday, and I have not been able to ascertain what is not clear on the face of the Question—whether the statement of the gentlemen to whom reference was made referred to applications for a loan within the Union or merely within the barony. Within the Union, as stated inThe Dublin Gazetteof Friday last, applications were made for upwards of £2,800, and subsequent applications will raise the sum to £3,300. These applications might or might not have been in the particular barony; but I am unable to say.

MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the statement of the "Derry Standard" that an owner of land in the neighbourhood of Derry, to whom a Government Grant has been made for the purpose of improvements in connection with the relief of distress, has issued the following circular to his tenantry:— Notice. Those tenants who wish to have improvements carried out on their holdings, either in drainage, or fencing, or in roads, are informed that, upon proper application, money will be advanced for the purpose; hut the tenant must agree to one shilling for every one pound spent being added to his rent—suet increased rent to commence from 1st of November 1881; and, whether he will take any steps to prevent other owners of land from acting in a similar manner?

MR. J. LOWTHER

Sir, I have not seen the statement to which the hon. Gentleman refers, and I am not inclined to verify it in any way. There is no power I am aware of, on the part of the Government, under the notice of the Board of Works, or in the provisions of the Land Improvement Act, and there certainly is no inclination to interfere in any way between landlord and tenant.