§ MR. BLANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that Stephen M'Cann, of Lislea, Camlough, County Armagh, and 25 other tenants on the 1467 estate of the late Mr. Edward Quin, of Newry, bad their applications for having a fair rent fixed dismissed by Mr. D. Tuckey, B.L., at Newry Land Commission, and that, in the judgment, the Commissioners stated that the leases were dated between the years 1826 and 1832, the period covered by the two subletting Acts, and that the cases were dismissed owing to a defect in the Act of last Session, which did not embrace leases which contained no non-alienation clause; and, whether the Government would amend the law so as to cover the leases mentioned?
§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have introduced a Bill—the Leaseholders Bill—to remedy this defect, and that when I have repeatedly endeavoured to move the Second Reading, hon. Members below the Gangway opposite have always objected, and, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, will the Government give facilities for the progress of the Bill?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe that it is the fact that the Bill to which my hon. Friend refers does deal with the subject raised in the question of the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. Blane), and my impression is that it has been objected to by hon. Gentlemen sitting in that quarter of the House. In reply to the question on the Paper, I may say that I have received no Report in regard to the cases mentioned. Personally, I should be extremely glad if the Bill of my hon. Friend the Member for Antrim (Mr. Macartney) were to become law.