HC Deb 26 October 1882 vol 274 cc164-5
MR. LEWIS

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is true that, at a meeting of some of his constituents in Coleraine, on Saturday, the 14th October, a resolution was passed demanding of Her Majesty's Government the dismissal or removal of the Court Valuers recently appointed by or with the sanction of the Government, under "The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881;" whether such resolution was forwarded to him, requesting him to sup- port and enforce its prayer on the Government; and, whether he has undertaken that he would make it his business to place the views of the meeting as strongly as he could before the Lord Lieutenant; and, if so, what is the result of his representations to the Government as regarded the Valuers being retained or dismissed?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)

Sir, a large and important meeting of Ulster tenant farmers, most of whom were my constituents, was held at Coleraine, in the county of Londonderry, on the 14th of this month, at which a resolution was adopted expressing great apprehension at the appointment of Court Valuers, and calling for their removal, on the ground that their appointment was opposed to the letter and spirit of the Land Act, and to the previous practice of the administration of the law. This resolution was forwarded to me, with the view of having it brought before the Government, and I undertook to place the views of the meeting as strongly as I could before the Lord Lieutenant, expressing my belief that they would receive careful attention. I accordingly did so, but am unable to state whether my representations have had any result.

MR. O'SHEA

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Court Valuers recently appointed were chosen by the Land Commission on their own responsibility, in accordance with the Land Law (Ireland) Act; and, whether Her Majesty's Government interfered in the matter?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the Court Valuers recently appointed were chosen by the Land Commission on their own responsibility, and the Government did not interfere.