HC Deb 23 November 1888 vol 331 cc22-3
MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolvorhampton, E.)

said, he desired to ask the Solicitor General for Ireland a Question arising out of the Report of the Irish Land Commission. Did the words "tenement valuation," at the head of one of the columns in the report, mean the value of the entire holding, including the value of the tenant's interest in the holding?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)

said, it was difficult for him to answer this Question with regard to a Report which was not before him without Notice. But if the right hon. Gentleman gave Notice of a Question he would give a definite answer.

MR. HENRY H. FOWLER

said, it was rather difficult to give Notice in regard to these matters, owing to the rate at which the Government were proceeding with the Land Purchase (Ireland) Bill.

MR. MADDEN

said, that the tenement valuation referred to was Griffith's valuation, which was no test of the letting value of the property. It was a valuation fixed exclusively for rating purposes, upon certain principles laid down by the Commissioner. It had been fixed at different times in different parts of Ireland.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

asked whether it were not the fact that where the tenant had made improvements after Griffith's valuation the supervisor came round and rated the improvements?

MR. MADDEN

There has been no general re-valuation.

MR. DILLON

Of course not. But does not the supervisor add a tenant's improvements to the value of his holding?

MR. MADDEN

There has been a re-valuation in certain individual cases; but tenants' improvements are not all included.

MR. DILLON

Is it not—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! A series of Questions like this amounts to a debate.