§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland it he will say when, and by whom, Mr. McElligott was appointed a Land Commission valuer in county Longford; whether he is aware that since Mr. McElligott's appointment the rent-fixing decisions in county Longford have averaged from twenty to forty percent, higher than in the time of Messrs. Greene and Finlay; and whether he will 347 look into the qualifications of Mr. McElligott to give a fair decision to tenant farmers, seeing that he was a land agent and is himself a small landlord.
MR. BRYCEMr. Elligott was appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant as a lay assistant Commissioner on December, 23rd, 1896; and his qualifications are stated in Parliamentary Paper, No. 151, of the year 1902. He is a member of the Sub-Commission at present engaged in disposing of Fair Rent applications in county Longford. I am unable to enter into the merits of the decisions of this court, but I would point out that if either of the parties to any case is aggrieved by its rulings he is entitled to appeal.
§ MR. T. W RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Does not the appointment expire on March 31st next?