§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that the deputation of the Belfast licensed vintners that waited on the Commissioner of Valuation for Ireland in September, 1901, had relation only to that year's annual revision, where some twenty-six publicans' valuations were dealt with in a particular district; that the Commissioner then arranged to hear the several cases in the council chamber of the town hall on 7th October, 1901, and with one exception set them back to the original valuation; and that an interview of one member of the licensed vintners, without authority from the general body, has been taken by the Commissioner to comply with the undertaking to arrange interviews with public bodies in Belfast; and, if so, can he take 47 steps to secure that the Commissioner will now interview the Belfast publicans before their cases are decided at quarter sessions, and try to come to some amicable understanding without involving appellants in legal expenses.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Commissioner of Valuation is prepared to arrange for an interview with a deputation of the Belfast publicans at an early date, and will communicate with the secretary of that body for the purpose.