HC Deb 06 July 1882 vol 271 cc1612-4
MR. FITZ-PATRICK

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the person named Thomas Meek, recently appointed a Sub-Commissioner under the Land Act, was employed to value farms for tenants in the county of Tyrone, previous to his appointment, and if it is the fact that he is now sitting in the adjoining county as a colleague of one of the same Sub-Commissioners before whom he gave evidence in February, March, and April of this year; whether, on one of these occasions, in the case of T. R. Bell, landlord, Rogers, Young, Murray, M'Grory, Brady, and Corr, tenants, he valued these six farms at £30 19s. 3d., but the Sub-Commissioners disregarded his valuation, and fixed the judicial rents at £42 0s. 0d.; whether he is a small tenant farmer, holding a farm of twenty-four Irish acres, under the Salters' Company, at a rent of £24; and, whether he has any special qualification as an impartial and competent valuer of land?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, Mr. Thomas Meek did give evidence as a valuer on behalf of tenants in the County Tyrone; but it is not the case that he is sitting as a colleague with any Assistant-Commissioner before whom he gave evidence. In the cases of the six tenants mentioned, his valuation of the six farms collectively amounted to £30 11s. 8d. The judicial rent fixed by the Sub-Commission amounts to £41 15s. The former rent was £62 17s. 7d. Mr. Meek informs me that he cultivates 75 acres of land, and that previous to his appointment, he was engaged in stock-farming on other lands. He has been for 25 years a practical farmer, and was accustomed to act on arbitrations connected with land. Sir William Conyngham, who, on account both of his county position and his political opinion, the hon. Member would, I think, regard as an authority, gave him the following testimonial in purport of his candidature for the post of Assistant Commissioner:— Having known you for a considerable time and had frequent opportunities of observing your management of land, I know you to be a thoroughly practical farmer, a good judge of land and of its management. Though we differ considerably in our political opinions, there, I believe, our differences end, and I have every reason to say that I consider you an honest, upright man, and one who, if appointed to the position you now seek, would act fairly and in a proper judicial spirit.

MR. GIBSON

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what connection Sir William Conyngham had with the matter?

MR. HEALY

asked whether it would not be desirable that the Return of the judicial rent to be laid before Parliament should contain the list of appeals against the decisions of the Sub-Commissioners?

MR. TOTTENHAM

asked if Mr. Davidson was not a member of the Sub-Commission before which Mr. Meek gave evidence?

[No answers were given to these Questions.]