HC Deb 13 May 1915 vol 71 c1833
11. Mr. JOHN WALSH

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, having regard to the delay in the completion of land purchase in Ireland and to the deficiency of Section 65 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, in benefiting only a small percentage of the future tenants then in Ireland, of which there are several thousands at present debarred from getting fair rents fixed, whether the Government will this Session introduce a short amending Land Bill to this Section 65 giving those excluded future tenants the right to enter the Land Courts and get fair rents fixed, or allow such a Bill to be introduced by unofficial Members with a view to its subsequent adoption?

Mr. BIRRELL

The provisions of Section 65 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, were expressly designed to meet the case of tenants who had been evicted from their holdings and subsequently reinstated as "future" tenants, and there is no analogy between their case and that of new tenants who have entered into their contracts with their eyes open. The answer at the present time must be in the negative.

Mr. HORNER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is now definitely settled by the Irish Executive and the Treasury to put an end to the fixing of fair rents as far as possible in Ireland?