HC Deb 02 July 1883 vol 281 c34
MR. KENNY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been directed to that portion of Professor Baldwin's evidence before the Select Committee of the House of Lords appointed to inquire into the working of the Land Act of 1881, which represents the great loss of public time and the serious inconvenience to the tenants caused by the frequent adjournments of sittings of the Sub-Commissioners before the number of cases listed for hearing have been heard; and, if he will suggest to the Chief Commissioners the advantages likely to accrue by having all cases listed for hearing at each sitting heard before the termination of such sitting?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, I have brought this question under the notice of the Land Commissioners. They state that it is always a matter of difficulty to decide how many cases should be listed for hearing at a Sub-Commission. It is impossible to tell beforehand the number that will be settled by consent, withdrawn, or struck out, and which, therefore, will not take up the time of the Court. Neither can it be known how much time will be consumed at the trial of each case. The Commissioners make the best calculations they can, and list for each sitting the number of cases which experience shows is likely to be disposed of in the time allotted for the sitting.

MR. KENNY

Have the Land Commissioners under consideration the suggestion contained in the latter part of my Question?

MR. TREVELYAN

The attention of the Commissioners has been more than once directed to this point.