MR. O'BRIEN (for Mr. HEALY)asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Has his attention been called to complaints that the agent in the Arran Islands for many years has made the tenants under £4 valuation pay rates contrary to Law under threat of eviction, make roads without wages, and support a Protestant minister who, along with his congregation, had been imported by him into the island, and for whose benefit two tenants were evicted; if he would inquire if the 1103 tenants collected seaweed and made kelp from it without any charge for doing so for many years, but were first charged a royalty on this kelp when the agent became a director and shareholder of a kelp manufacturing company; has the Land Court of Appeal at Galway adjourned, at great inconvenience to the tenants, the decision of their cases at the request of the agent, in order to consider a demand he makes for royalty on seaweed for kelp, although there is no question about the abstract right of the tenants freely to collect seaweed for manure or otherwise; and, did the Court allow only £3 as expenses to seventy-eight tenants for the delay and the hazard of their lives in coming across the sea to Galway; and, will arrangements be made to have the points complained of speedily investigated?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)My attention has been called to complaints of the tenants of Arran Island and counter-statements of the landlord's agent. The tenants valued under £4 have, I am informed, paid poor rate up to last year; but this was not done under threat of eviction. The agent states he took on himself and paid all rates at the tenants' request, and charged them one rate equal to the county cess alone. I am informed that the tenants, up to a few years ago, did make roads without wages, and were threatened with eviction if they refused. The agent states they were bound by the terms of their tenancies to provide labour for the purpose. The Protestant clergyman is paid exclusively by the Sea Coast Mission Society. No Protestants have been imported into the Island. The clergyman has resided in the present house for 30 years. One tenant was evicted in 1877 for non-payment of rent. The farm was given to the clergyman, who held it only for a short time. It is now on the agent's hands The tenants were not charged for kelp until recently. I believe it is a fact that a royalty was first charged at a time when the agent was Director and shareholder of a Kelp Manufacturing Company. The Company has since failed. I am informed that the Sub-Commissioners only adjourned the cases till the claims to take seaweed, which was disputed before them, were settled. I have no information as to the circumstances under which the Sub-Commissioners, 1104 in the exercise of their discretion, measured this sum for expenses.