§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Tyrone, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it true that a large number of tenants in the Clogher (county Tyrone) Union, whose applications to have fair rents fixed were listed for hearing on the 9th February last, were required to attend at Aughnacloy, involving, in some cases, journeys of fifteen miles on foot for the tenants and their witnesses, instead of having their business disposed of at Clogher, where sittings had usually been held to deal with cases arising in the vicinity; whether, after complaining of this inconvenience, the tenants were informed that the sittings at Aughnacloy had also been abandoned, and the hearing of their cases postponed until the next sittings; whether the tenants have memorialised the Sub-Commissioners for a prompt hearing of their applications, pointing out that, unless the adjudication should be made before the 1st of May, they will be saddled with their present rack-rents for another half-year, and complaining that in some cases a delay of two years has already taken place in obtaining a decision upon their applications; and, whether the Commissioners will make arrangements to prevent any further hardship, expense, and miscarriage in the case of these poor tenants?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)It appears that the Sub-Commissioners were detained at Dungannon longer than was expected, the severe weather having retarded the inspection of farms there, and it consequently became necessary to adjourn the proposed sittings at Aughnacloy, which was considered the most fitting and convenient place for hearing the cases for that district. This was accordingly done, with the approval of the Chief Commissioners, and the earliest possible notice of the adjournment was given to the tenants. The Land Commissioners are not aware that any Memorial on the subject has been sent in by these tenants; but they state that there are no cases in the locality pending for two years. The oldest fair rent case appears to have been lodged on the 2nd of April last, and the remainder in August and September. The Commissioners observe that they fear it is 807 not possible to make arrangements which are not liable to be disturbed by the weather, and that if these cases had been proceeded with other tenants later on the circuit would have had the same cause of complaint. The earliest possible notice of the adjournment was given.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENThe reply appears to have rather missed the principal point of the Question, whether, after complaining of the inconvenience, the tenants were obliged to travel 15 miles, and were then informed that the sittings at Aughnacloy had also been abandoned, and the hearings postponed to next sittings, involving the payment of another half-year's rent? Is the reply of the right hon. Gentleman that because the people complained of travelling 15 miles their cases were put off altogether? Were not the tenants misinformed?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYsaid, he did not think that was a fair inference from the reply of the Commissioners.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENThe reply does not appear to explain why the cases were not tried at Aughnacloy, which is described as a convenient place by the Commissioners.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYNo. The Question was why they were not heard there at a particular time, and the Commissioners had explained why the sittings were postponed.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENsaid, he was sorry to intervene again; but he would ask would the Commissioners make arrangements to enable the fair rents to be fixed without their being prejudiced by what had occurred?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYsaid, he had no undertaking to give as to the future; but if the hon. Gentleman would make clearer the point on which he wanted information, he (Mr. Morley) would communicate with the Commissioners upon it.