§ SIR THOMAS LEA (Londonderry, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Return of Judicial Rents fixed in November last is to be taken as representing the rents fixed by the Sub-Commissioners or as the rents decided on appeal by the Head Commission; if the former, how are the results in those cases where appeals were taken to be known; if the hitter, how is the variation in the rents made by the Head Commission to be ascertained; and, in view of the state of feeling in Ulster in regard to the work of the Chief Land Commission, and the fact that newspapers publish the results of their proceedings, he will take steps to allow Members to ascertain accurately what has been the result of the procedure of that Court?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Return referred to is to be taken as representing rents fixed by the Sub-Commissioners, and not as rents fixed by the Land Commission on appeal. It does not purport to show the variation of Sub-Commission rents made by the Appeal Court. In the annual report of the Land Commission to March, 1896, page 41, such a Return, showing variation, county by county, is given for the year, and this has been the practice followed since 1881. It has not been the practice to show the variation in individual cases in Returns of the Land 1334 Commission. The results of individual appeals can be given monthly, but, as before stated, to do so will cause considerable additional trouble and expense, as the information could not be included in the present tables, but must be set forth by adding additional tables to the Returns.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is really any difficulty in securing a report of the results of these appeals? Surely the results are recorded, and there can be no real difficulty in adding the reports of the Sub-Commissioners. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable urgency in Ireland as regards these appeals?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURCertainly it would not be impossible, and, if a wish is expressed for them, I will ask the Land Commissioners to make such a Return. I may point out to the right hon. Gentleman, and I think he will appreciate the remark, that the Returns referring to appeals to the Land Commissioners would not have reference to the rents as fixed by the Sub-Commissioners in the same month. It would be probably five or six months afterwards before such Returns could be published; but, if it is pressed for, I will ask the Commissioners to give the information.