§ MR. PATRICK MARTINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What has been the entire number of appeals from the decisions of the Sub-Commissioners under "The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881;" how many of these appeals have been heard or otherwise decided by the Land Commission up to the present; can he state what the Land Commission estimate as the average number of appeals which they consider they can decide each month; within what period do the Commissioners anticipate they will be enabled to dispose of all the appeals at present pending; have any representations been made to the Irish Executive complaining of the great injury to tenants and suitors from the great delay at present existing in the disposal of these appeals; and, what remedy, if any, do the Government propose?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe entire number of appeals lodged is 12,869, of which 4,223 have been disposed of. The Commissioners state that they cannot estimate the monthly number which will be disposed of, or the time which will be taken in disposing of all pending cases. During the last three months the average number per month was about 300. Recently appeals have been withdrawn at a greatly-increased rate. During the last six weeks of 1883, 55 appeals were withdrawn, and during the first six weeks of this year 210. He could not undertake that Her Majesty's Government would take any steps in the matter.
§ MR. PATRICK MARTINAm I to understand that it is the intention of the Government to allow this gross scandal to continue?
§ [No reply was given.]