HC Deb 14 February 1898 vol 53 cc475-6
MR. JAMES DALY (Monoghan, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Sub-Commissioners sat at Carrickmacross in March, 1897, to fix fair rents on the Shirley and other estates in County Monoghan, and that several appeals are pending since by both landlord and tenant; whether he can state the cause of the Appeal Commissioners not hearing cases referred to them; and whether he can say if two Court valuers will view the holdings, and also if the Appeal Court will sit at Carrickmacross for the convenience of both landlords and tenants?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

A Sub-Commission was at work in the Union of Carrickmacross during the months of March, April, and May, 1897. Appeals were lodged in 64 of the cases then dealt with, nearly all of which were received about the beginning of the month of August following. The pressure of work in other districts has prevented the Commission from holding a sitting for the purposes of hearing the appeals in question. The date of the next sitting of the Commissioners for the purpose of hearing appeals from the County Monaghan has not yet been arranged, and therefore the place of sitting has not been considered. The Commissioners have, however, never sat in Carrickmacross to hear appeals. It has hitherto been the practice of Commissioners to refer such cases to two valuers for report.

Mr. DALY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Commissioners did sit at Carrickmacross?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I cannot say.

MR. DALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into this matter?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

Certainly.