§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, having regard to the definition of improvement in The Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act, 1870, the rights conferred upon tenants in respect of improvements by that Act, amended by the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1896, the inadequacy of the form of schedule now used by the Irish Land Commission for recording improvements, and the practice of fixing rents upon the tenant's improvements, contrary to law, he will order the immediate preparation and use of an amended schedule, setting out expressly under the general heading Improvements, the following sub-headings, namely: buildings; reclamation; fences made or removed; drainage; farm roads; planting for defence or shelter; manures unexhausted; deep tillage; removal of rocks; removal of furze and heather from land naturally subject to them; levelling hills, filling hollows; wall or embankment against water; and any other work which adds to the letting value of the holding.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the Land Commission that the schedule referred to is in the form which has been duly prescribed in pursuance of Section I of the Land Law Act of 1896. The power of prescribing such form is vested by law in the Land Commission, and it is not competent to me to direct the changes which the hon. Member desires. I may, however, add that I am informed that the statement that the practice prevails of fixing rents upon the tenants' improvements is not in accordance with the facts.