§ THE LORD MAYOR of DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON)(for Mr. M'CARTAN) (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will state how many cases of appeal from decisions on applications to have fair rents fixed remained unheard on July 1 instant; how many of these appeals are in respect of applications where the originating notices were served on the Land Commission in each 1239 of the following years—namely, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, and 1886; and, what steps the Government propose to take for the purpose of having these appeals disposed of in reasonable time, and at places to suit the convenience and means of both tenants and landlords?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Land Commissioners inform me that the total number of appeals remaining unheard on the 1st day of this month was 5,010. Of these, however, 1,914 only had been received prior to January 1 last. They have been unable to furnish the number for each of the years referred to in the second paragraph, as the work of ascertaining the figures would occupy some four or five days. The responsibility in the matter of dealing with appeals and the fixing of places for hearing them rests solely with the Land Commissioners, who have already explained that, in discharging the duties devolving upon them, they endeavour to meet the convenience, as far as practicable, of all the parties concerned.
§ MR. SEXTONasked, whether, as the Land Commissioners appeared to be unwilling to sit in Quarter Sessions towns, they would hold sittings in the Assize towns of each county, so as to prevent the additional costs arising from the hearing of an appeal in a county different from that in which it originated?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he should be very happy to convey to the Land Commissioners any suggestions of this sort which came from hon. Members below the Gangway opposite.