§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the 546 intention of the Government to lay upon the Table the Schedule of Prices upon which the Irish Land Commissioners acted in decreeing the recent reduction on judicial rents; and, if he can give any explanation as to why Mr. Justice O'Hagan declined to sign the Order promulgated in December last?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN)(who replied) said (Kent, Isle of Thanet)The Land Commission, in decreeing the recent reduction on judicial rents, acted, subject to the principle laid down in section 29 of the Land Act of last year, as a Court of Arbitration on judicial rents, from which there is no appeal. Hon. Members will see that, under the circumstances, the Government would not have the right to ask the Commission, or any single Commissioner, for the grounds on which their decision was based, even if such a course seemed in other respects desirable.