§ MR. M. M'CARTAN (Down, South)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he will state the number of sittings which the Chief Land Commission held outside of Dublin during the year 1897, and at how many of these sitting's Mr. Commissioner O'Brien sat as a member of the Court?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThere were 23 sittings to hear appeals by the Chief Commissioners held outside Dublin during the year 1897. Pursuant to arrangements made by the Land Commission with regard to the distribution of the business of the Department between the Commissioners, the Judicial Commissioner and Mr. Commissioner Fitzgerald are members of the Court at all sittings for rehearings and fair rent appeals. The other three Commissioners attend such sittings practically in turn. At seven of these sittings Mr. Commissioner O'Brien sat as a member of the Court.