§ MR. M'CARTANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the general dissatisfaction in Ireland, particularly in Ulster, with reference to the present state of the law relating to town parks; whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Land Commission in the ease of Mrs. Letitia M'Cann, tenant, and the Marquess of Downshire, landlord, recently heard at Belfast, wherein the village of Dundrum, County Down, which had a population of only 372 in 1881, was decided to be a town to which the exemption from the benefits of the Laud Acts applied; is he aware that the Land Commission had previously decided that Dundrum was not such a town at the passing of the Act: whether he is aware that the Cow-per Commission recommended that the exemption should not apply to any town under a population of 5,000, and that the late Government accepted in the House of Commons, in the Laud Bill of 1887, an Amendment providing that the exemption should not apply where the population was under 2,000; and whether some steps will be taken to preserve to tenants in towns in Ireland their property in such lands held outside the towns.
MR. J. MORLEYIn reply to the first paragraph, it is very probable that some dissatisfaction is felt as alleged. My attention has been called to the matters stated in the second and third paragraphs in the question, and I am informed that the facts are as indicated by my hon. Friend. I am aware that the Cowper Commission made a recommendation to the effect stated. I am not aware, though I have no reason to doubt, that my hon. Friend is correctly informed as to the proceedings in Committee on the Bill of 1887. In reply to the last paragraph, I think it will be open to the Select Committee which I am proposing to appoint to suggest improvements in the law in respect to the matter alluded to in this question.
§ MR. M'CARTANThe right hon. Gentleman is probably aware that the Amendment adopted by this House reducing the limit of population was thrown out in another place.
§ MR. KNOXCan the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why a place which was not a town 10 years ago and has not increased in size in the interval is to be deemed to be a town now?