HC Deb 11 July 1889 vol 338 cc112-3
MR. CAREW (Kildare, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the decisions given by the Chief Land Commissioners, Mr. Litton, Q.C., and Mr. Wrench, at Downpatrick, whether he is now aware that no alteration was made by them in the rents fixed by the Sub-Commission except to increase the rents so fixed; whether his attention has been called to the meetings of farmers held at Downpatrick, Lisburn, Saintfield, and Newtownards, declaring their want of confidence in the Chief Land Commissioners, and calling upon the Government to add to the Commission some person who had the confidence of the farmers; and, whether, he will take steps to so alter the Commission as to give the farmers some confidence in that tribunal as a Court of Appeal from the Sub-Commissions?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, on the Downpatrick list there were 126 cases nominally listed for hearing before the Chief Commissioners, but of these 13 were cross appeals, leaving 113 cases to be really tried, of which 92 were landlords' appeals. Eight were tenants' appeals, and, as already stated, 13 were cases where both the landlord and tenant had appealed. Of the 92 landlords' appeals, in 53 cases the landlords failed; and the decision below was confirmed with costs against the landlord. In 13 cases the landlords' appeals were withdrawn. In 11 cases the rents fixed by the Sub-Commission were raised, each party abiding his own costs. Seven cases stand for inspection and judgment, and eight were adjourned for various causes. Of the eight tenants' appeals five were withdrawn, one had been dismissed below on a question of law, and the dismissal was confirmed. In two cases on questions of value the rents fixed by the Sub-Commissioners were confirmed with costs against the tenants. Of the 13 cross-appeals, in six cases the rents fixed by the Sub-Commissioners were raised, each party abiding his own costs, and in five cases the rents were confirmed. One case stands for inspection and judgment. One case has been adjourned for cause.