§ MR. HEALYasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it is the fact that while power has been taken under the Land Act to allow landlords to serve writs and ejectments by registered letter, tenants are compelled to effect personal or house service of originating notices (Rule 27) under the Land Act, and of ten days notices under the Arrears Act, thus causing a poor class of persons much needless trouble and expense; whether instructions can be given affording tenants in such cases the same facilities as are given to landlords in case of ejectments, &c.; and, whether the Rules framed under the Arrears Act have been presented to Parliament?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, no power was taken under the Land Law (Ireland) Act to allow landlords to serve writs or ejectments by registered letter. The Act gave no such power, and none was assumed. Possibly, this Question has in view a Rule of the Land Commission presented to Parliament in March last, by which service of notice by an execution creditor, bankrupt's assignee, or personal representative of deceased tenants, of intention to sell or purchase a tenancy in a prescribed district was authorized to be made by registered letter. This Rule has ceased to be operative with the expiration of the Protection Act, and landlords and tenants are precisely in the same position as regards the service of notices under the Land Act and Arrears Act. There was a Rule under the Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Act which authorized service in prescribed districts by registered letter of all writs of summons issuing out of the High Court of Justice; but that Rule has also ceased to be operative with the expiration of the Protection Act.
§ MR. HEALYsaid, he would give Notice that on Monday he would ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman, Whether, in many cases, tenants were obliged to travel long distances, sometimes 20 and 30 miles Irish, on foot, in order to serve notices under the Arrears Act, which could be served as well by registered letter?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON), in reply, said, it was obvious that the answer to that Question could not be satisfactory, as it would be impossible for the Land Commissioners to ascertain the distance travelled by tenants, or whether the journey was performed on foot; but if the hon. Member supplied him with the Question in writing, he would communicate with the Land Commissioners to see what could be done in the matter.