MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If he can explain why the case of Mr. James Murphy, of Kilmaine, Ballinrobe, a tenant on the estate of Mr. John W. Cannon, and one of the earliest applicants under the Land Law Act, has not yet been listed for hearing? He wished also to ask, in reference to the delay in the Land Court in deciding the claims from the Ballinrobe district, whether steps would be taken to remedy the grievances complained of?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, in reference to the general question, of course, I cannot give any opinion as to what the intention of the Land Commissioners may be; but, having regard to the large number of Sub-Commissioners recently appointed, I imagine that the official strength is now sufficient to cope with the cases remaining for hearing. Indeed, we have every reason for believing that it will be so. In reference to the Question as to why the case of Mr. Murphy, which was one 240 of the earliest applications made under the Land Act, has not been sent down for hearing, I shall only state the cases are sent down from the Land Commission in the order in which they are received. Mr. Murphy's application was not received until the 12th November, and before this case was sent in there were 2,400 cases entered, of which 250 were from the Ballinrobe Union, in which Mr. Murphy's farm is situated. All I can say is, there is no hardship, and that, no doubt, Mr. Murphy's case will be taken in its turn.