§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that large numbers of Irish tenant farmers, whose rents were fixed subsequent to 1882, and who are thus debarred from availing themselves of the Land Act, are unable to continue paying their judicial rents, and have been refused any abatement by their landlords; and, whether he will consider the advisability of affording these tenants some immediate relief?
§ MR. MICHAEL McCARTAN (Down, S.)asked the hon. and learned Gentleman if he was aware that meeting after meeting had been held recently in the North of Ireland and that it had been declared that a reduction of 50 per cent. was absolutely necessary to save them from ruin?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDI have no information bearing out the statement in the Question as to the inability of tenants to pay their rents. If the suggestion in the second part of the Question is that the Government should follow the precedent of 1887, I may say they have no intention to legislate in this direction. I am aware that tenants in different-parts of Ireland have passed resolutions to the effect that they desire a reduction of 50 per cent.