HC Deb 03 August 1897 vol 52 cc231-2
MR. MCCARTAN (Down, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state if any Land Commission Court valuers, now engaged in the County Down were Sub-Commissioners who fixed the first statutory term on the same holdings which they are now inspecting, in order to review the reductions made by other Sub-Commissioners for the second statutory term; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of advising the discontinuance of this objectionable practice?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am informed that one of the Assistant Commissioners, who has recently been employed to value for the Land Commission in cases arising out of appeals from the decisions of Sub-Commissions fixing fair rents for second statutory terms in the County Down, was one of the Court of the Sub-Commission who fixed the same rents for the first statutory term. I have no power to advise the Commissioners as to any action they may think fit to take, but I will call their attention to the hon. Member's Question.