§ MR. BYRNE (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is 1581 aware that on the 24th April last the Land Commissioners (No. 6 Sub-Commission), whilst inspecting holdings on the Greaves Cathrew Estate at Dunard, Baltinglass Union, County Wicklow, drove the landlord and his bailiff from holding to holding on the Commissioners' car, although they were visiting the lands in their judicial and official capacity; that, although the tenant gave evidence as to value and produced an experienced valuer, the landlord elected not to do so; whether the judicial rents fixed by Land Commissioners on the holdings of Francis and Thomas Redding were 22½ and 47½ per cent. over the Government valuation; whether the rents on the Bookey estate, adjoining Reddings' land, were reduced to from 35 to 50 per cent. below the Government valuation; and, if he can explain this difference in the judicial rents on adjoining estates?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOB IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The Land Commissioners report that the Assistant Commissioners who inspected the holdings on Mr. Graves Cathrew's property at Donard state that as Mr. Cathrew had no conveyance they, after inspecting one holding, asked him to accept a seat on their car to the other holdings, which were some distance off. They did so it order to save the time which would have been lost by driving on and waiting for Mr. Cathrew. It was getting' late' and they' had other holdings to inspect. The Commissioners think that the Assistant Commissioners, under the circumstances, acted properly in giving Mr. Cathrew a seat on the car. The Assistant Commissioners, having heard the evidence in Court, and inspected the holdings, and considered all the circumstances of the case, fixed what they considered fair rents. The Commissioners cannot enter into any statement concerning the judicial rents fixed by the Assistant Commissioners or by themselves in Court in the exercise of judicial functions.
§ MR. BYRNEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the proceeding of the Commissioners was a proper one?Acting as they were as Judges, was it right that they should favour either one side or the other?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is asking for an expression 1582 of opinion which is not within the limits of a question.
§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)Is it not usual on such occasions for the landlord to provide himself with a car?Is it upon record that the Sub-Commissioners ever gave a tenant such a ride upon a car?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not aware that such questions are made a matter of record.