§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the number of fair-rent applications from the County Cork still pending before the Irish Land Commission; whether it is the fact that several thousand of such applications were lodged before the 29th September, 1887, and are still unheard; at what rate per month those applications have been disposed of since the beginning of 1889; how long it is likely to take before the arrears of cases in the County Cork are disposed of; and, whether the Land Commission intend during the ensuing legal year to add the County Waterford to the Circuit of the Sub-Commission which until the beginning of 1889 was entirely devoted to the County Cork?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Land Commissioners report that on 1st July there were 4,181 applications to fix judicial rents from the County Cork still undisposed of, which include not several thousand, as is alleged in the question, but 1,783 cases in respect of which applications were received prior to the 29th of September, 1877. Since the beginning of 1889 these applications have been disposed of at the rate of 119 a month; but over 800 had been disposed of in the four preceding months. The Commissioners cannot at present state what arrangements the Public Service may require to be made during the ensuing legal year. They must make the best practicable arrangements, having regard to the claims of the various districts, and will fully consider the claims of the county referred to.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many of the applications to fix fair rents made by 132 leaseholders immediately on the passing of the Land Act of 1887 are still undisposed of, and are now pending; how many fair rent applications by yearly tenants are now pending; at what rate per month such applications are being disposed of, and when it is hoped that the arrear of business in the Land Commission will be got rid of; whether the Government propose to fill the vacancy in the office of Legal Assistant Commissioner, caused by the death of Mr. Reeves, Q.C.; and, if not, why not; what number of additional lay assessors the Government propose to appoint in the event of the passing of their Bill for transferring to the County Courts portions of the work of the Land Commission; and, whether, as it is not now intended to introduce this Bill this Session, the Government propose to make any provision for the despatch of business in the Land Courts, by the appointment of additional Sub-Commissioners?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Land Commissioners report that on the 1st of July 14,645 applications by leaseholders to fix judicial rents, and 32,490 applications of yearly tenants, were still unheard. Applications are being disposed of and decisions announced in such cases at the rate of 2,741 per month. The Commissioners have had under consideration the question as to whether they should recommend the Government to appoint a successor to the late Mr. Reeves, Q.C., Legal Assistant Commissioner. At present they do not propose to do so, as they anticipate that the duties of the Sub-Commissioners can be discharged with the present staff of Legal Assistant Commissioners. But if hereafter it becomes advisable they will apply to the Government to appoint a successor. No statement has been made by me, so far as I recollect, implying that in the Land Court Bill which we had hoped to pass any transfer of business would be made to County Courts. Perhaps as regards the last question the hon. Member will be good enough to put it down at a later date, say this day week.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that much of the time of the Sub-Commissioners who hear and decide fair rent applications is taken up by the duties 133 recently imposed on them of delineating on the Ordnance Maps the holdings which they value; and whether it would be possible to make arrangements whereby at any rate portions of this work could be done in the Ordnance Survey Office?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Land Commissioners state they are satisfied that it is of paramount importance that the Assistant Commissioners should delineate on the Ordnance Maps the boundaries and different qualities of land in the holdings they inspect before fixing the judicial rent thereof, and they do not consider that it would be advisable to adopt the course suggested in the second paragraph.