§ MR.L. P. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has taken any, and what, steps to change the present constitution of the Land Commission; and whether, if he does not at present possess the necessary power to make such changes, lie will insert provisions in the forthcoming Land Dill to enable him to do so.
MR. J. MORLEYThe Judicial Commissioner has the status and tenure of office of a Judge of the Supreme Court. The other Land Commissioners have the status and tenure of office of County Court Judges, subject to this qualification, however—that they are removable by the Lord Chancellor for inability or misbehaviour. The Assistant Commissioners have the status of permanent Civil Servants. The constitution of the Land Commission was so fixed by the Land Acts of 1881 and 1891. It probably will become necessary to appoint additional Assistant Commissioners.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)When do you expect to be able to introduce the Land Purchase Bill?
MR. J. MORLEYWe have already announced the introduction of the Welsh Disestablishment Bill for Thursday, and, as soon as that is disposed of, subject to general changes, we shall follow it up immediately with the Irish Land Bill.