§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he could give the House any information as to the tenure of office of the two gentlemen who had administered the £5,000,000 under the Ashbourne Act, and who had taken three years in doing it. Were the gentlemen in question removables?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)As I understand it, the two Gentlemen to whom the hon. Member refers are not removables; but are within the terms of the Expiring Laws Continuance Act, and will continue till the end of next Session. It is the intention of the Government to deal with the question of the renewal of the Land Commission next Session; and, therefore, no change can be effected in the status of these gentlemen.
§ In reply to a further Question by Mr. T. M. HEALY,
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, the Government had withdrawn their Land Commission Bill, in which they had proposed to make Mr. Wrench a permanent officer and leave the terms of the other Commissioners at the discretion of the Treasury. He was not in a position to say what proposal would be submitted next Session.