§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenat of Ireland, If any cases have occurred in which compensation for disturbance has been awarded under section 9 of the Land Act of 1870, on the ground that the rent was an exorbitant rent; and, if many cases have not occurred in which ejectments have been brought against tenants whose rents have exceeded Griffith's Valuation by fifty or even one hundred per cent?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, a Return presented to Parliament in 1878 shows that between the passing of the Land Act and the beginning of the year 1877 no such case occurred. I have no official information; but I rather think there have been one or two cases since. As regards the question of Griffith's valuation, I really can give no answer about that. The hon. Member himself, or any other Member of the House, is as well able as I am to determine as to the subject. I do not think Griffith's valuation 1637 is much prized at the present moment as a value for rent. I think, however, I ought to add that as regards the word "exorbitant" no such thing is likely to occur in the stringent legal interpretation of the term.