§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the last quarterly Return, under Section 7 of The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1887, shows that 711 evictions were carried out by registered letter in Ireland during the three months ending the 30th September; can he say what proportion of those notices were served with the object of forcing tenants in arrears to agree to exorbitant terms of purchase; and whether he proposes introducing legislation to abolish this mode of procedure.
MR. BRYCEThe fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. The Estates Commissioners tell me that they have no information which would warrant them in forming the opinion that notices under Section 7 of the Act of 1887 have been served with the object of forcing tenants to purchase at high rates. This conclusion appears to be supported by the fact that the figures for the September quarter of this year are more than 100 below the average for the corresponding quarters of the preceding fire years. In reply to the concluding inquiry of the Question, I would refer to my Answer to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for North Cork, on 20th March last,† in which I dealt fully with the matter. I am advised that a repeal of the section might prove to be an injury rather than a benefit to the tenants concerned, seeing that under the section they have a right of redemption for six months.
§ MR. DELANYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that every one of the 711 tenants who have become future tenants, lose all their rights under the Act of 1881, and does he think that is desirable?
MR. BRYCEI think, on the whole, the giving of notice under this section is rather a benefit to the tenants than otherwise.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the
† See (4) Debates, cliv., 228, 229.620 eviction made easy clause, which the whole Liberal Party joined with us in resisting, is a benefit to the tenants?
MR. BRYCEYes, but I will give the hon. Gentleman some figures. The number of tenants and sub-tenants actually dispossessed under that section of the Act in 1905 was ninety-six and five respectively. That is to say, less than 5 per cent. of the number served with eviction made easy notices. We have to consider this matter in its relation with other kinds of proceedings, and it is in that respect I say it may be a benefit to the tenants.
§ MR. DILLONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 60,000 tenants in Ireland have, under this section, been deprived of all rights under all Land Acts?
MR. BRYCEI am not justifying the clause, but there are other steps that could be taken, and experience has shown that the proceedings under this section are not more unfavourable to the tenants than those under other Acts.
§ MR. DILLONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we consider this one of the mo3t disastrous sections that have ever been passed?
MR. BRYCEI am not justifying the section. I am simply comparing its effects with the effects of proceeding in another way.