§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware that tenants of Major Galway, near Dingle, made application to the Land Court for fair rents a year and nine months ago, and that no Sub-Commission has yet adjudicated on their cases; that the rents on this estate more than double the valuation; have the tenants been proceeded against for these rents since their application to the Court; and, can he state when a Sub-Commission will inquire into these cases?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Land Commissioners inform me that the reply to the inquiry in the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The tenants concerned are eight in number. The aggregate rent in the eight cases, as compared with aggregate Poor Law valuation, appears to be as stated in the second paragraph. No legal proceedings have been instituted against the tenants. The Commissioners are not at present able to state when a Sub-Commission will hear the applications.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give any personal attention to this matter; and that, if the rents are more than two and a half times the valuation, he will urge on the Land Commissioners to hear the cases?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. and learned Gentleman must be aware that the Poor Law valuation is no test.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTONMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that the other evening he quoted it himself as a test?