§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the report in The Freeman's Journal, of the 8th instant, of the proceedings before Lord Chief Baron Palles, in an action for the recovery of rent brought by the Lord Lieutenant against Mr. Hugh Ferguson, of Newtownards; whether he is aware that the amount sued for by the writ of summons is £93 18s. 3d., being one and a-half year's old rent due on May 1 last; whether Mr. Ferguson, having served his originating notice to fix fair rent before November 1 last, was entitled to the benefit of his fair rent from May 1, 1887; whether the Lord Chief Baron decided to put a stay on the action if the tenant lodged within a week £56 7s., which was considered to be an interim fair rent; and, whether it is now his intention to appoint a number of additional Sub-Commissions, in order to enable the tenants to avail themselves of the benefit of the fair rent without exposing themselves to the cost 110 and inconvenience of defending actions for the recovery of the old rents?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)A report of the proceedings does appear in the newspaper named. The answers to the second and third paragraphs are in the affirmative. With regard to the fourth paragraph, I have to say that the substance of the paragraph is true. The Chief Baron, however, is reported to have said that the reduction offered by the agent was nearly equivalent to what a reduction of 20 per cent on the old rent would give. The agent was willing to accept, and, in fact, only pressed for one year's rent, and would have reduced it to £1 per acre—£53, while the Court has now ordered payment within a week of £56 7s., but whether as the equivalent of a year's rent or not is not reported.
§ MR. M'CARTANinquired, whether Ferguson did not offer to the Lord Lieutenant's agent to leave the amount of the rent to arbitration pending the fixing of a fair rent, and whether the offer was not refused; whether, with reference to the last paragraph, the right hon. Gentleman was aware from the recent Return of the Land Commissioners that there were 60,000 cases still remaining undisposed of; and that according to the rate at which cases were heard from November to June last it would take upwards of four years before they could all be disposed of; and whether, in the meantime, the tenants were to go on paying the old rent?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, the example the hon. Member had given him of tenants being called upon to pay impossible rents was not a happy one. The agent offered, as far as he could judge, extremely fair terms to the tenant. He was aware that the number of arrears before the Sub-Commissioners was large; but it was somewhat smaller than it was a short time back. He hoped the arrears would be greatly reduced if the Treasury would consent to the arrangement he proposed.