§ MR. S. YOUNG (Cavan, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the Lisgar estate, near Bailieboro', county Cavan—(1) whether he is aware that, for the last half century, the rents which the tenants have been compelled to pay have been forwarded to Captain Holford, of London, who has a mortgage on the estate; (2) whether his attention has been called to the inability of the tenants on this estate to pay their rents this year; (3) whether extreme pressure has been put upon the tenants to recover last year's rents and arrears which they have no means to pay; (4) whether these tenants are now 1065 threatened with eviction; and, (5) whether he will devise some plan for their relief and to prevent the eviction of all the tenants on this estate?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts appear to be as stated in the first paragraph. No representations have been made to me on the subject of the statement in the second paragraph, though I understand that about four-fifths of the tenants have paid a year's rent since November last. No extreme pressure has been brought to bear on the tenants, so far as I can gather, nor are the police aware that any evictions are contemplated on this property. As to the concluding paragraph, the hon. Member is aware that the Executive cannot interfere with the execution of decrees or judgments of competent Courts.