§ MR. BRODRICKasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is correctly reported in Hansard of the 28th November 1882 to have stated with 1161 regard to the appointment of valuers in Ireland—
The experiment was made, and what is the result? It is this—that we have completely failed in bringing about the expedition which was the capital object which we had in view;and, whether, bearing in mind the statement of the Chief Secretary on March 12th 1883, that—Under the new system the same number of Sub-Commissions with which the valuers produced decisions amounting to 77 a-day, were now producing 100 decisions a-day. The Government, therefore, watched the proceedings of the newly appointed Sub-Commissions with hope,he will take stops to remove the impression, of which he expressed himself unaware on Tuesday last, that pressure is being exercised by the Government on the valuers to expedite their decisions?
MR. GLADSTONE,in reply, said, he was not aware of the existence of the impression referred to by the hon. Member; but was glad to have the opportunity of stating that there was not, and never had been, any attempt on the part of the Government to accelerate the proceedings of the Commissioners otherwise than by improving their means of action. That was the object which the Government had in view all along. Although there were now no valuers properly so-called—the valuation work being done by the non-legal members of the Commission—yet the instructions lately issued to these Sub-Commissioners were such that each Commission practically was able to do the work which was formerly done by two valuers. From that cause, and not from any pressure of the Government, came the augmented rate of progress.