§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the qualifications and experience of Mr. Thompson, land valuer, and the name of the person on whose recommendation he has been employed; on what ground has the Land Commission, in the case of Battersby, landlord, John Casey, tenant, Mullingar rural district, Westmeath, record No. 359, increased the area of the farm and increased the rent, notwithstanding the sworn evidence of competent valuers and of competent surveyors after a chain survey; does the law or do the rules extend to empowering the Land Com- 938 mission to make a tenant pay for land he has not got; and, if not, will the true area and true rent, as ascertained by the county court, be restored.
MR. BRYCEMr. Thompson, who had been assistant Commissioner since May 22nd, 1890, was in 1903 appointed an assessor under the Land Act of that year as being a person of skill and experience in agriculture. He had for several years before appointment as assessor acted as appeal valuer to the Land Commission. His qualifications, when originally appointed, are stated in Parliamentary Paper No. 151 of 1902. I have no information as to the name of the person, if any, on whose recommendation he was appointed an assistant Commissioner. I am informed by the Land Commission that the particular case referred to in the Question was regularly heard on appeal and judicially decided in July, 1905, and the Commissioners hold that it would be irregular on their part to discuss the facts or evidence in such a case in answer to a Question.
§ MR. GINNELLSeeing that the area was settled by the County Court Judge, will the Land Commissioners consent to a survey?