§ MR. J. P. FARRELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the names of the Sub-Commissioners who recently heard fair-rent cases from the union of Granard; in how many cases they varied the existing rent in favour of the landlord and tenant respectively; what was the average percentage of their reduction; and whether the fall in the value of agricultural produce was taken into account when making their valuation.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Land Commission informs me that the cases referred to in the Question were heard by the Sub-Commission in open Court in the presence of the parties, who are, therefore, aware of the composition of the Court. In such cases the parties have all been notified of the decisions of the Court. The same Court has at present before it a further list of cases from the same union, which were heard in November, and in which the decisions have not yet been given. The Land Commission do not think it desirable that the result of judicial decisions under the Land Law Acts in particular cases should be discussed by means of Parliamentary Questions, and they hold that it would lead to serious embarrassment in pending cases if such a course were taken. If any of the parties are aggrieved by the decision of the Sub-Commission Court the remedy provided by the Land Law Acts is to apply for a re-hearing by the Land Commission Appeal Court.