§ MR. M. MCCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will suggest to the Land Commission, for the convenience of judicial tenants in Ireland now entitled to have fair rents fixed in respect of the second judicial term, the desirability of publishing lists of the "recorded" applications under the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881; whether he is aware that in the lists of cases printed for hearing before the Land Commission for some years after the passing of the Act of 1881 the record number was published therein in every recorded case; and whether, considering that a large number of tenants are in doubt as to their eligibility to make application now for the second term, he will advise the publication without delay of the lists of cases where the applications were recorded?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have very little to add to the statement already made by me in reply to the hon. Gentleman's previous question of the 23rd June on this subject. For the first fifteen months after the passing of the Act of 1881 no special reference was made to the recorded cases in the list published of cases set down for hearing. Subsequently for some years the letter "R" was printed opposite the entry of the "recorded" cases for the guidance of the Assistant Commissioners in dealing with such cases. The lists referred to therefore, do not afford sufficient information from which to prepare the lists suggested. If any 32 tenant is in doubt whether the application made in 1881 to have a fair rent fixed in respect of this holding was "recorded" or not, he has only to apply to the Land Commission on the subject, and every possible information will be afforded to him.
§ MR. MCCARTANasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that tenants when applying to the Land Commission for copies of the judicial orders were required to give particulars as to the date and place of hearing and, that they were frequently unable to do this?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid he did not know whether the difficulty which the hon. Member suggested arose, but he had already explained that, even if it were possible to segregate those cases, it would involve an enormous amount of labour out of all proportion to the result.
§ MR. McCARTANDo I understand that it is on account of the labour it cannot be done?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThat is one important reason; I do no say that it is the only one.
§ MR. MCCARTANI shall refer to the matter again.