§ MR. GIBSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, If he has given instructions not to press the landlords, whose rents have been withheld, for immediate payment of quit and Crown rent; and, whether he is aware that the collector of quit-rent in Wexford has refused to make any such allowance, and has intimated that he will take proceedings for quit-rent in arrear, including that due on the 25th March, if not then paid?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHWhere the persons liable for quit rent in Ireland have given satisfactory evidence of inability to pay, or have tendered a portion of the arrears due, the time for payment has been extended. But in cases where more than two years' arrears were due, and where, after repeated applications for payment, no satisfactory explanation of the default has been given, and also in cases where the Crown claim is disputed, instructions have been given for the recovery of the amount 12 due. Nothing is known at the Office of Woods of the case in Wexford referred to in the Question; but if the right hon. and learned Gentleman will supply me with particulars, I will have immediate inquiry made.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked, whether the Government would make this conditional on landlords ceasing to press for immediate payment of rents from tenants whose rents were exorbitant?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHwished for Notice of the Question.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked, whether the Government had not asked for these rents until they were at least two years due?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHsaid, in certain cases where the landlords were not able to pay, in consequence of their own rents not being paid, such a course was adopted.