HC Deb 10 August 1882 vol 273 cc1366-7
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he could explain why it is that Judge O'Hagan's recommendation, recently presented to Parliament, recommending an amendment of the Land Act is (unlike Mr. Litton's) undated; if he would state what the date is; whether Judge O'Hagan made any other communication on the subject of leases other than that now presented; and, whether any communications passed between Judge O'Hagan and the Government regarding his recommendation; if so, whether they can be laid upon the Table, and what the cause of the delay has been in presenting the recommendation to the House?

MR. TREVELYAN

Mr. Justice O'Hagan informs me that he does not know how it was that he omitted to date his Memorandum referred to. It was written at the request of the Lord Chancellor on the 4th of June last. He wrote two other Memorandums on the subject of leases. They were merely to enable the Prime Minister to answer Questions, and were to the same effect as the document now printed. The Memorandum which has been presented was prepared for the private information of the Government, and not for presentation to Parliament. After the hon. Member obtained the order, it became a question whether the public interest would not suffer by complying with it, and some delay consequently arose.

MR. HEALY

Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to put the documents in order of date? He has mentioned other Memorandums; but I do not gather that he has given the date of this one.

MR. TREVELYAN

I have given the date on which this Memorandum was written. It was written in compli- ance with the request of the Lord Chancellor; and I think I may fairly say that the Memorandum contains all the advice which the Land Commission has given to the Government on the subject in question.

MR. HEALY

Is there any objection to give the date?

MR. TREVELYAN

I have already given the date. It was written at the request of the Lord Chancellor on the 4th of June last. Justice O'Hagan does not know how it occurred that the date was not given.

MR. GIBSON

asked what was the request the Lord Chancellor made to Mr. Justice O'Hagan—was he asked to recommend the proposals of the Government, or simply to point out the machinery for working the existing Act?

[No reply was given to the Question.]

MR. TREVELYAN

subsequently stated he had made a mistake. The letter of Mr. Justice O'Hagan was written in reply to a letter of the Lord Chancellor on the 4th of June.