HC Deb 09 August 1894 vol 28 cc443-5
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the total number of ejectments in Ireland from the passing of The Land Act, 1881, to the passing of The Laud Act, 1887, and the total number since that date, to the present time?

MR. J. MORLEY

There were 24,400 evictions from October 1, 1881, to September 30, 1887, and 8,975 evictions from October 1, 1887, to June 30, 1894.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Notices of evictions?

MR. J. MORLEY

No; evictions. The Eviction Returns are prepared quarterly, and it would be a matter of much difficulty to give the exact figures for periods which include broken quarters. The periods mentioned by me, however, approximate closely to those indicated in the question.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Do the figures 8,975 include services by registered letter, or do they only refer to actual dispossession by the Magistrates?

MR. J. MORLEY

I take it the word "evicted" does not include service by registered letter.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

On the Second Reading of the Evicted Tenants Bill the right hon. Gentleman gave the number as 7,000 or 8,000.

MR. J. MORLEY

Whatever number I gave I have no doubt was correct.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)

Under the Evicted Tenants Bill 3,900 evictions are to be dealt with. Can the right hon. Gentleman explain what has become of the difference between that number and the total of 32,000 evicted between 1887 and 1894? If not, will he give a Return showing what has become of them, and the number still to be dealt with?

MR. J. MORLEY

It would be impossible to trace the fortunes of every evicted Irish tenant. A great many have been reinstated, and others may be accounted for in different ways. In many instances the evicted tenants have disposed of the interest in their holdings, and some 2,000 have gone into other callings. I will inquire if it is possible to give the Return asked for.

MR. T. M. HEALY

But even if the evictions were formal, the tenancies in all cases were equally broken?

MR. J. MORLEY

I am afraid that that is so.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

Is there anything to prevent this large number claiming under the Evicted Tenants Bill?

MR. J. MORLEY

That depends on the circumstances of each particular case.

MR. BARTLEY

Then there is nothing to prevent 26,000 or 27,000 more tenants claiming compensation under the Bill?

MR. J. MORLEY

I think not; but each case will have to be determined upon its merits.