§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether having regard to the fact recently given in official evidence by one of the Estates Commissioners that, in the case of poor holdings, judicial rents are habitually fixed upon the tenant's property in spite of the statutory provision forbidding that to be done, he will consider the desirability of promulgating a rule on the subject in accordance with the law for the guidance of Commissioners and valuers and the protection of the people.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.The Estates Commissioners inform me that they do not know to what particular statement the Question refers. It may, however, be pointed out that judicial rents are fixed by the Land Commission Court under the provisions of the Land Law Acts. The matter is entirely within the jurisdiction of the Land Commission, and the Government have no power to interfere, by rule or otherwise, with the discretion which Parliament has vested in that body.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)The Government surely can interfere by putting an end to the appointment of the nominees of Irish landlords as sub-commissioners.
§ MR. FLAVINYes, of the sub-commission recently re-appointed the great majority were landlord nominees.