§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury under what provision of "The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891," the Treasury have made Rule 17 (1) of the Treasury Rules under the Act; whether he is aware that the effect of that Rule is to order the payment to the vendors of land of sums to 1670 which they would not have been entitled either under the Act of 1891 or under the previous Land Purchase Acts; and whether, inasmuch as there is no practicable way of testing in a Court of Law whether this Rule is ultra vires, he will consider the advisability of altering the Rule?
SIR J. GORSTThe Rule is made under Section 27 of the Land Act, 1891, for the purpose of carrying into effect the adjustments prescribed by Section 6 (4) and Section 15 (10). It has not the effect stated in the second paragraph, and the Lords of the Treasury see no reason for altering the Rule.
§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many of the fair rent appeals lodged on or before 1st June, 1891, and remaining undisposed of on the passing of "The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891," have since been disposed of, and how many remain to be disposed of?
§ MR. JACKSONWill the hon. Gentleman postpone his question?