§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. E. G. Peet, Lay Assistant Commissioner, has been continually engaged in valuing holdings on the estate of Sir George Colthurst, in the Ballyvourney district, since the passing of the Land Act of 1896, and that his valuations have been in some cases cut down by the Chief Land Commission to the extent of 25
†See (4) Debates, xcix, 1316.1340 per cent. And, having regard to the expense to the tenants, who are forced by Mr. Peet's valuations to seek the protection of the Chief Land Commission, will he explain his qualifications as a Commissioner; and, also, can he state why the Chief Land Commission have not yet heard appeals on the Colthurst estate which have been lodged since April, 1900, and fix a date when these appeals will be heard.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThere have been several appeals from the decisions of the sub-Commission fixing fair rents on this estate, but it does not appear, I am informed, that the rents so fixed were reduced on appeal to the extent mentioned. In some cases the decisions of the sub-Commission were affirmed, and in some the rents were raised. The qualifications of Mr. Peet are described in Parliamentary Paper, No. 107, of the session of 1897. It is probable that all outstanding appeals from the estate in question will be listed at the next sitting of the Commissioners for the hearing of appeals from Cork.