§ MR. L. P. HAYDEN () Roscommon, S.I beg to ask the Chief Secretery to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that Mr. John Higgins, of Carrigrickane, Lisacul, County Roscommon, with his wife, his son aged 14 years, and his daughter aged 13 years, have, since September 1894, been subjected to no less than 15 terms of imprisonment for alleged trespass on the holding from which they were evicted on the estate of Mr. John C. Murphy, of Naas, County Kildare; (2) whether he is aware that Mr. Higgins' offer of a year's rent, which he stated was all he could get together, 392 was refused, and that eight summonses have recently been issued against Mr. Higgins, his son, and his daughter, on similar charges; and (3) whether pending the passing of the Land Bill, he would consider it advisable to represent to the landlord the desirability of staying the proeeedings, or making a reasonable settlement, or in the alternative withholding the assistance of the forces of the Crown in aiding the prosecutions?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe statements contained in the first and second paragraphs have been generally confirmed by police inquiry, though it is not the fact that any of the daughters of Higgins have so far undergone imprisonment. It is not within the province of the Government to make representations as suggested to the landlord; but from the information supplied to me I am led to believe that he would be willing to settle with Higgins if a better offer were made by the latter. The amount for which Higgins was decreed at the date of his eviction was equivalent to twelve years' rental, together with the usual costs, and he has offered to settle by payment of a year's rent which the landlord has not accepted. I do not quite understand the suggestion that the forces of the Crown in aiding the prosecutions should be withhold. These prosecutions have been at the suit of the landlord, who has taken proceedings in the exercise of a legal right.