§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that Captain Douglas, a landlord, has served about forty notices of ejectment on tenants in the district of Drumlish, county Longford; and, whether, inasmuch as these tenants were receiving public relief last year, and are therefore presumably unable to pay the rents claimed; and that several other landlords in the same district have announced their intention of serving notices on their tenants, he will advise landlords to delay their action until after the passing of the Irish Land Bill?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI have no information on the subject, and it is possible I may not have. I get information of all cases of actual ejectment; but, unless it is necessary to give the protection of the police in the serving of notices, I should not hear. I have no information with regard to these cases; I cannot tell what the position of the tenants was last year; and I am not aware of the present position of the tenants. I do not know that there will be any great advantage in my giving advice; but, if I am asked, I should advise the landlords to be forbearing in the present circumstances, and especially not to servo ejectments upon tenants who they have reason to believe are not able to pay. I am well aware that there are many landlords who are very hard pressed themselves, and who may be in the hands of other persons, making it impossible for them to delay. As the hon. Member alludes to advice, he must allow me to say, respectfully and without offence, that I think other advice might be given, in the interest of the condition of Ireland, by those who have influence, or try to have influence, and that they should advise the tenants to pay when they could. If persons who are interested in the prosperity of the country, and who have influence over their fellow-countrymen, would use it, and advise those tenants who are able to pay their rents to do so, or even if they would refrain from going about the country advising the 1017 tenantry not to pay rents, the condition of Ireland would be better, and the difficulty of maintaining law and order greatly diminished.