§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been directed to the condition of things which exists on the Warden Estate at Sneem, in the county Kerry; (2) whether he is aware that on that estate, old arrears of rent, outstanding for many years, have been used to deprive a great number of tenants of all rights under the Land Acts; and, whether, under the law as it now stands, the tenants have any remedy; and, (3) if not, whether he can 916 undertake to introduce during the present Session, a Measure dealing with the subject of arrears of rent in Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention has been drawn to the condition of things on the estate mentioned in the first paragraph. I have been informed, though I cannot say how far accurately, that the purchaser of this property has also purchased all arrears, as he was entitled to do; that he is taking the arrears from the tenants in instalments on easy terms; and that he is affording employment to a number of the tenants and their sons, at an expenditure of about £27 weekly. I am also informed that the purchaser has, in some instances, obtained mortgages from the tenants of their interest in their holdings to secure the arrears. This, if true and bonâ fide. would prevent them from applying to have a fair rent fixed while this mortgage by assignment exists, except with the consent of the mortgagee. The tenants whose tenancies were determined before the passing of the Act of last year are unaffected by its provisions, and, therefore, they could not have redeemed except upon payment of all the rent and arrears due by them, the purchaser having purchased the old arrears, and having thus been placed in the same position as the former landlord. It was open to the tenants on the occasion of the ejectments having been brought against them for non-payment, to have appealed under the 6th section of the Land Act of 1887 to have a fair rent fixed, if it had not been fixed already, or to have the arrears made payable in instalments under the 30th section of that Act. This they apparently omitted to do. The case does not seem to call for special legislation.
§ MR. DILLONasked if the right hon. Gentleman had made any inquiry as to the date from which these old arrears had accrued due and how long they had been hanging over the tenants? He would also remind the right hon. Gentleman that he had not answered the last paragraph of the Question—whether the Government, in view of this position of affairs, would introduce a Measure dealing with this question of arrears?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURYes; I did answer that Question. I said it was a matter which did not appear to me to require any special legislation.