§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the action of Mr. J. G. Kelly, Assistant Land Commissioner, in raising the rent of James O'Flynn, of Cecilstown, Castlemagner, Mallow, from £94 7s. to £9G 13s. 6d.; is he aware that Coroner Byrne, a land valuer of experience, valued the holding at £73 6s., and that the original rent of £94 7s. was fixed by the landlord, the late Sir Henry Beecher, twenty-five years ago; and will he say what qualifications and experience-in valuing land does Mr. Kelly possess; and whether instructions to have due regard to Section 8, Sub-section (9), of of the Act of 1881, are issued to the Sub-Commissioners.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed as to the facts of this case. According to the information supplied to me by the Land Commission, Mr. O'Flynn is the tenant of three holdings, the rents of which were judicially fixed by the Sub-Commission last month. The sum of the rents which have now been judicially fixed for a first statutory term, is £96 13s. 6d.; but the sum of the former rents was £132 10s., and not £94 7s. as stated. I have no information as to Mr. Byrne's valuation of the holdings. Mr. Kelly's qualifications and experience are stated in Parliamentary Paper No. 151 of 1902. The Land Com- 44 mission do not issue instructions to Sub-Commission Courts as to the performance of their judicial functions.