§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Irish Land Commission, when taking proceedings for land purchase annuities or interest in lieu of 1237W rent, issues a writ of summons out of the superior courts where the amount due is over £20, instead of proceeding in the county court, which has jurisdiction up to £50; if he can state the difference in costs to the defendant where a writ for, say, £40 is served as compared with a civil bill process for the same amount, and the respective costs of a superior court judgment and a civil bill decree for the same amount; whether he is aware that the sheriff's charges on the execution of a judgment are also considerably higher than when executing a civil bill decree, and that the recovery of a judgment is published, which destroys the tenant's credit, even though he ultimately pays the amount, which would be avoided if the proceedings were by civil bill; and whether, in view of the fact that the legal value to the Land Commission of a civil bill decree is the same as that of a superior court judgment, he will represent to the Land Commission the advisability of resorting to the civil bill courts wherever the amount sued for brings the case within their jurisdiction?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question by the hon. Member for North Louth on 18th April, 1908, in which I dealt with the several points now raised. I have nothing to add to that reply beyond stating that the Land Commission now proceed in the Superior Courts only in cases where the amount to be recovered is over £30.