§ SIR THOMAS LEAI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the Returns of the rants fixed by the Head Commission on appeal in November and December last will be laid upon the Table; and if the Returns will give the rents as fixed by the Sub-Commission and revised by the Head Commission?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Returns of proceedings for November and December last have been presented to Parliament, but these Returns do not contain the information indicated, which is given in the Animal Report of the Land Commission. The preparation of the Monthly Returns in the form suggested would add considerably to the labour and expense of compilation, and would needlessly change the system of presenting the average annual results which has been followed since 1881. I trust, therefore, that my hon. Friend will not press for any alteration in the form of the existing Returns.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Kilkenny (Mr. MCDERMOTT), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the great inconvenience suffered by the tenant farmers of County Kilkenny, owing to the delay in holding a Sub-Commission Court to deal with their cases; and whether he can state about what date these tenants may hope to have their cases inquired into?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURA Sub-Commission Court sat in September 1896, and disposed of all cases save two in the county referred to, received up to the 31st July preceding. A further sitting for 970 the county will be held at the earliest date possible having regard to the claims of other districts. The applications received from this county since the 1st August last are not, I am informed, numerous.