§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that 40,000 Irish tenant farmers have been evicted under the process instituted by the late Government, 6,556 of these cases, together with 494 evictions by another process of law, having occurred within the year 1893; and whether he will consider it expedient, as a check to future evictions, and for the better government of Ireland, to insert a clause in the Evicted Tenants Bill which will make it compulsory on landlords to pay their tenants, in cases of eviction, the full value of the interest in their farms?
MR. J. MORLEYDown to the 31st December, 1893, there have been 43,457 ejectment notices under Section 7 of the Land Act of 1887, converting tenants into caretakers, served in Ireland. In the great majority of cases, however, these notices did not result in actual evictions. The number of ejectment notices served during the year 1893 was 6,526; but the number of tenants actually turned out of their houses on the holdings, after service of the notices, was 574, of whom 494 were tenants and 80 sub-tenants. The number of evictions under other processes of law in 1893 was 444. In answer to 698 the last part of the question, I cannot undertake to insert in the Bill a clause to the effect the hon. Member suggests.
§ MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)Arising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider the terms of Reference of the Committee, so that they may inquire into the working of Section 7 of the Act of 1887, which, I believe, will not come within the terms of Reference as they are at present drawn?
MR. J. MORLEYI am not quite sure whether the operation of Section 7 would come within the terms of Reference that I have put on the Paper, but I think it would. In any case, I am not prepared to extend those terms of Reference.
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)Are the terms of Reference intended to include an inquiry in the working of the Acts, as well as the principles embodied in them?
MR. J. MORLEYI think not, because the words mentioned in the terms of Reference are "The practice and principles of those Acts." I am not quite sure that I appreciate the substance of the distinction which my hon. Friend is now endeavouring to raise, and if he will make it more clear I will give the best answer I can.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the Commission be empowered to consider not only whether the Commissioners have duly carried out the intentions of Parliament in principle and in practice, but also whether the Acts as passed by Parliament are sufficient?
MR. J. MORLEYI think it would be for the Committee itself to consider the terms of Reference. My own view is that the Committee would be more usefully employed if it wore to confine itself to the extent to which the Commission, County Court Judges, and other persons have carried out the intention of Parliament as indicated in the Acts mentioned in the Order of Reference.
§ MR. SEXTONAssuming the Acts to be imperfect, would it be beyond the power of the Committee to draw attention to imperfections in the Acts themselves?
MR. J. MORLEYI take it that, according to the terms of Reference, the inquiries of the Committee would bring out whatever defects might exist in the working of the Acts, and, as my hon. 699 Friend may remember, the last clause in the Order of Reference invites the Committee to make any suggestions as to any defects that may be brought to light in the course of their inquiry. I think that that covers the ground which my hon. Friend desires.
§ MR. KNOXWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the fact that 43,000 tenants have been, if not evicted, at any rate, deprived of the benefits of the Laud Acts, is a matter worthy of the consideration of the Committee?
MR. J. MORLEYThat, of course, will be for the Committee to determine when they meet. The Order of Reference covers the whole of that ground, and I have no doubt that if it be found on inquiry that an extension of the terms of Reference was desirable, it would be done.
§ MR. CLANCYDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to include or to draw attention to the decisions of the Land Courts in Ireland, by which, in the opinion of many, the intentions of Parliament have been defeated?
MR. J. MORLEYThose decisions will be taken as the starting-points of inquiry if, in the judgment of the Committee, the principles upon which the decisions are based come within the scope of the inquiry.
§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)How is the Committee to arrive at the intentions of Parliament except by the expressions used in the Acts?
MR. J. MORLEYI do not really like to go any further. There is the Order of Reference, and the Committee will no doubt interpret it for themselves. If a discussion on the Order is desired then the House can see how far the Committee has gone.