§ MR. THOMASSONasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether, if the Arrears of Rent (Ireland) Bill becomes Law, the Courts administering that Law will have power to call as witnesses bankers, Savings Banks' officials, and others having knowledge of tenants' affairs.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)The Court will not have power directly of its own motion to call witnesses; but before it can arrive at the conclusion that the tenant is unable to discharge the arrears, it must have satisfactory evidence to convince its judgment that that is the fact, and, therefore, may refuse to adjudicate on the question until all evidence in the case which it considers necessary has been laid before it, including such evidence as that mentioned in the Question.