§ MR. McKEAN (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to an award, dated the 30th March last, made by Mr. Lawder, of Ballinamore, in his capacity as arbitrator, appointed by the Local Government Board, in the case of a proposed erection of cottages under the Labourers Acts in the Castleblayney union, in which award he allowed the owners the sum of £18 for ninety statute perches (an amount equal to thirty years purchase), at the same time reducing the occupier's rent by the sum of 12s., in addition to allowing said occupier £8 10s. for his interest, and £1 5s. for severance; and whether, seeing that Mr. Robert Haire, arbitrator on a former occasion, allowed the same owners only £11 5s. for a similar sized plot in the same field, he will take steps to secure that Mr. Lawder, being himself a landlord, shall not be employed as an arbitrator in such cases.
§ MR. WYNDHAMMr. Lawder made his award on the basis of the facts deposed to by the claimant, and not disputed by the representatives of the district council who were present, namely, that he, the claimant, had, in respect of the plot, received £9 compensation at the former arbitration, and an abatement of 12s. in his rent. Mr. Lawder is confident his award is right. He is a very extensive farmer, a small landowner, and a civil engineer of much experience and high qualifications, fully competent to decide such matters. The reply to the last query is in the negative.
§ MR. McKEANI must say the answer is not satisfactory. [Cries of "Order."] Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware 26 that the amount awarded was £18, not £9.
§ MR. WYNDHAMMy information is that it was £9.