§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will lay upon the Table of the House copies of the communications between himself and the Land Commission relating to the proposed legislation on the Land Question recently referred to by him?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have considered the case to which the hon. and learned Member referred me as a precedent, and have come to the conclusion that there is not sufficient analogy 269 between that case and the present one to render it incumbent on me to depart from the ordinary rule in these matters. The communications now in question were departmental. It is not the practice to publish correspondence of that nature, and it does not appear to me that any public purpose could be served by making an exception in the present instance.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would give the House an assurance that in future he would give up having any such communications? [Cries of "Order!"]
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI do not think that it would be expedient under any circumstances to undertake not to make departmental communications.
§ MR. VESEY KNOXDoes the right hon. Gentleman seriously contend that Judges of the High Court in Ireland are officers of this Department?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt is the Land Commission which is a part of the Government.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI would ask whether, as a fair rent can be fixed in these Courts as well as in the County Courts, Mr. Justice Bewley considered that it would be proper——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the question.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYOn the point of order——[Ministerial Cries of "Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice. I have already said that in my opinion it is not, a question arising from the question on the Paper.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThe better course will be that I should raise the whole question on the salary of the right hon. Gentleman, and I therefore beg to give notice that I shall do so.