§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the settlement created by the late Lord Russell on the Vandeleur estate, in County Clare, is still in force between landlord and tenant; and whether these tenants will be at liberty to avail themselves of the Land Bill should it become law this year.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe award recited that the evicted tenants had been reinstated in their holdings as tenants, that some of them had had, and others had not had, judicial rents fixed, and that the landlord had agreed to accept arrears of rent at a certain rate in the case of "judicial tenants," and at a different rate from non-judicial tenants. I cannot say whether the landlord re-instated the evicted judicial tenants with the intention that their status as such should be continued. I understand that it was subsequently held in a Court of law that the award was not legally binding.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a circular has been issued directing that all the tenants must pay the hanging gale? Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations so that this may not be persisted in?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am not aware of that. I know that the award was held not to be legally binding. I cannot prevent anyone exercising his private rights.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDBut under the peculiar circumstances of the day the Government might take some steps to prevent these people being treated as they are threatened by circular.
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!