§ MR. CULLINAN (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, notwithstanding Clause 7 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1896, 59 and 60 Vic, a number of farmers are debarred from entering the Land Courts either to get fair rents fixed or to purchase their holdings because of having sub-tenants; and, in view of the fact that the said sub-tenants may enter the Land Courts and gain the benefit 444 of the Land Acts, while the direct tenants are compelled to pay the full amount of their old rents, not only for the portions of the holdings retained by themselves but also for those of the sub-tenants, though the rents of the latter have been reduced by 20 to 30 per cent., whether he can say that steps will be taken to remedy the grievance complained of.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThere are no official records showing the number of farmers who are debarred from entering the Land Courts for the reasons stated. I cannot give any undertaking to introduce further legislation in the direction suggested in the question.
§ MR. CULLINANBut is it not a fact that under this Clause 7 many of these farmers are debarred from entering the Land Courts?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThat may be, but I cannot possibly undertake to bring in a new Land Act, with reference to fair rents, to amend the Act passed in 1896.