§ MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Bell, now a Sub-Commissioner engaged in fixing rents in the County Cavan, before his appointment, had acted as paid valuer for many landlords in that county; whether, since his appointment, Mr. Bell has acted as Sub-Commissioner in eases where the landlord was his former employer, and in one case, at Cootehill, fixed, as Sub-Commissioner, the rent of a farm which he had previously valued for the landlord; and whether, under the circum- 959 stances, Mr. Bell will be retained as a Sub-Commissioner in the County Cavan or elsewhere?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The Land Commissioners report that Mr. Bell was appointed to the Commission upwards of eight years ago, and that he has since been continuously engaged in the work of the Commission. He has kept no record whatever of any valuations he may have made prior to that appointment. He has no recollection of his having taken part, as a matter of fact, in fixing a rent on a holding which he had on a former occasion inspected for the landlord. The Commissioners see no reason why this gentleman should not be retained as an Assistant Commissioner.