HC Deb 29 August 1895 vol 36 cc1117-8
MR. MACALEESE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) if he has seen two resolutions passed at a meeting of farmers, occupying on the College Lands estate, county Fermanagh, asking to have the rent question on the estate settled by arbitration, and pointing out how undesirable it would be to have evictions carried out on the approach of winter; and (2), in view of this pacific action on the part of the tenants, will he, should evictions be persisted in, refuse to allow the forces of the Crown to be present thereat?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I have seen a resolution to the effect stated in the question. With regard to the second paragraph, I trust a settlement will be arrived at between the parties, and the necessity for eviction thus obviated, but, as I have had occasion to state several times already, the Executive has no power to do as the hon. Member suggests at the end of the question.