§ MR. HAMMOND (Carlow)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that a 596 feeling prevails amongst the tenant farmers, over a large area of Ireland, for the re-adoption of the former practice of having two lay members on each Land Sub-Commission, one of whom should be a practical tenant-farmer enjoying the confidence of his own class; and, if so, whether he will introduce a reform in the personnel of the Sub-Commission, so that the tenant should enjoy a proportional representation thereon.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am not aware that there is any widespread desire for a reversion to the former practice of having two lay Assistant Commissioners in each Sub-Commission. The present system was provided by the Act of 1903, and until His Majesty's present Government have gained more experience of the working of that Act I am not prepared to make any statement as to possible legislation.