§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing the number of landed estates now under the control or jurisdiction of the Land Court of Ireland, and the number of their agricultural tenants; and showing also in what number of cases during the last two years abatements of arrears of rent have been made by orders of the Judges, and in what number of cases applications 312 for such abatements have been refused by the Judges?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. S. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E), in reply, said, he was informed by the Land Judges that it was not practicable to give the Return asked for. To obtain the information it would be necessary to examine not only every statement in each estate, several thousand in number, but also each ruling therein. This could not be done without a great deal of trouble and inconvenience.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRECan they furnish a Return showing the number of cases in which they have refused abatements?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs I understand, in order to make any Return positive or negative, they would have to examine all the estates and the rulings in all the cases. As regards the Return asked for in relation to the number of estates now under the control of the Land Judges, that will be given in the Return ordered by the House of Lords, on the Motion of Lord Fitzgerald.