HL Deb 05 July 1880 vol 253 cc1613-5
THE EARL OF ANNESLEY,

in moving— That there be laid before the House, Return in tabular form for each county, of the number of civil bill ejectments, distinguishing ejectments on the title from those for non-payment of rent, tried and determined in each county in Ireland for each of the three years ending 30th June 1880, exclusive of ejectments for premises situate in counties of cities, boroughs, and towns, under the Act 9th Geo. IV. chap. 82., or the Towns Improvement Act, 1854, or any local Act; also the number of persons re-admitted as tenants or care-takers:—Ejectments entered: on title; for non-payment of rent: decrees granted: decrees executed: dismisses: cases otherwise disposed of; stay put on decrees: re-admitted as tenants or care-takers. Also, Return, in tubular form for each county, of the number of actions of ejectments in superior courts commenced, distinguishing ejectments on the title from ejectments for nonpayment of rent, and those tried and determined in each county in Ireland for each of the three years ending 30th June 1880; and the number of haberes issued and the number executed in the same period; also, number of persons re-admitted as tenants or care-takers:— Actions commenced: on title; for non-pay-ment of rent: actions tried: on title; for rent: number of haberes issued: number of haberes executed: re-admitted as tenants or care-takers. And also, Return for each county for the three years ending 30th June 1880, of the number of land claims in which the court certified under section 9. of the Land Act, that the nonpayment of rent causing the eviction had arisen from the rent being an exorbitant rent; and of the amount awarded in each case for disturbance; said, Her Majesty's Government, with a view of relieving the distress in Ireland, had introduced a Bill which had for its object to release the tenant farmers of Ireland from the necessity of paying the debts owing to their creditors. A Return had been given by the Crown of the number of evictions that had taken place in Ireland, which stated that in 1877 there were 900 evictions, whilst last year there were 2,063. Those figures, however, were obtained from the Constabulary Force in Ireland; at least, it had been so stated in "another place," and he (the Earl of Annesley) thought it was very doubtful, indeed, whether those Reports were to be relied upon. However that might be, he said that he did not believe that the landlords in Ireland ever did evict except under great provocation, and for their own protection. If there really had been 918 more evictions last year than in the preceding 12 months, the cause for such a state of things must be looked for in the baneful and unscrupulous agitation at present continuing in Ireland. He thought any noble Lord acquainted with the management of estates in Ireland would agree with him in saying that the large estates in Ireland were managed upon just principles towards the tenants. It was impossible to imagine that any landlord would attempt to evict a tenant in the Ulster Tenant Eight district, because he would have to pay an enormous sum for doing so; and, therefore, a landlord would not try, except in a case of absolute necessity. The Return which he asked for was very nearly the same as one which was ordered to be printed by the late House of Commons, and which he believed was now in course of preparation. He thought if the Return was granted, the public would have an opportunity of finding out the real state of the case.

EARL SPENCER

said, the Return which the noble Earl (the Earl of An-nesley) moved for was almost identical with a Return which was moved for by Mr. Lowther, when he was Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in March last. That Return would be in the hands of Parliament next week, and would give all the information asked for by the noble Earl, except the last portion, which asked for the number readmitted as tenants or care-takers. He hoped that his noble Friend would be satisfied with the Return moved for by Mr. Lowther; and, if he desired, he (Earl Spencer) had no objection to the Return being made up to the 30th June of this year.

THE EARL OF ANNESLEY

expressed himself satisfied to accept the Return in the form suggested by the noble Earl (Earl Spencer).

Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.