§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the fact that many land agents in Ireland are also Justices of the Peace, and that some of them have utilised the position to quietly carry out technical powers without giving the required statutable notice in regard to evictions and other matters; whether he will cause the Lord Chancellor to make inquiry into such violations of the law; and whether he will advise the discontinuance of appointing land agents to the Magistracy?
MR. J. MORLEYThere are a considerable number of gentlemen holding the Commission of the Peace who are also land agents. The practice referred to in the question as to not giving statutable notices in regard to evictions and other matters has not come under the notice of the Lord Chancellor in any case. If a Magistrate should be found to have been guilty of a violation of the law, the Lord Chancellor will take prompt notice of such action. The question of discontinuing the appointment of land agents to the Magistracy will be referred to the Lord Chancellor, as the discretion in the matter will rest with him.