the alleged instructions from the set of documents furnished by the Local Government Board to a Member of this House, will he say where those alleged instructions can be seen.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that rural councils have not been adequately instructed on the use of Form No. 6 and their powers under Section 8 of the Labourers Act, and seeing that want of knowledge on the part of councils of itself prevents a case from arising and frustrates the intentions of Parliament, and that labourers and the country may suffer in consequence, he will have Form No. 6 with practical instructions sent forthwith to every rural council, and the time extended three months for the completion of schemes in this respect.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the Coole District Council has rejected all representations on Form No. 6 under the Labourers Acts, under the impression that the council has no power to use that form; and, as other councils in whose districts there is untenanted land available may, under grazier influence, act similarly, and no question then comes before the Local Government Board, will he have the powers of councils to use Form No. 6 authoritatively settled, instructions issued to the councils regarding it, and all representations on that form reconsidered by them.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BIRRELL, Bristol, N.): The hon. Member appears to suggest that rural district councils have power, under the new Act, to establish small holdings by acquiring tracts for division among labourers without regard to the amount of land to be given in each case. The fact is that a rural district council can give no labourer more than one acre. The councils must, before acquiring any land, establish the necessity for its acquisition, and Section 8, which the hon. Member quotes, merely provides for the disposal of any superfluous land not required for the purposes of the Labourers Acts. Similarly, before proceeding under Section 20, the councils must show that the land is required. for the purposes of their

schemes. The primary object of the Labourers Acts appears to be the provision of proper houses for the labourers. Form 6 relates to the provision of allotments only. It is not within the province of the Local Government Board to influence rural district councils in favour of one rather than the other of these objects. Form 6 is of a very simple character, and it is held to be a mistake to send out elaborate instructions as to the use of so simple a form. I have already informed the hon. Member that rural district councils are obliged under the rules to keep a supply of these forms and to furnish a copy free of charge to every ratepayer and labourer who requires it. The Local Government Board are aware of no case in which a council has failed in its duty in this respect. The Local Government Board have no reason to believe that the Coole, or any other, district council have rejected. representations for allotments upon the ground that they had no power to adopt such representations. The Coole Council adopted representations for ninety cottages and plots and passed applications for additional half acres in the case of thirty existing cottages, but refused a number of applications, including twelve applications for allotments.

Attacks on Irish Postmen.

MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in December last, at Ballinagree, near Macroom, a postman was robbed by two disguised men of several letters believed to contain writs or processes; that on 19th February, at Ballinagleeragh, county Leitrim, a postman was stopped by disguised men and robbed of twenty registered letters; that on the same day a postman from Doura, in the same locality, was also robbed of several registered letters; and whether anyone has been made amenable to justice in these cases.

Attack on Doura Postboy.

MR. LONSDALE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a postboy from Doura, who succeeded in delivering registered letters, was, on the 20th February, attacked by a mob in Doura, and was with difficulty saved by the police from serious injury; and whether any persons have been made amenable for this attack, which occurred in the presence of the police.

MR. BIRRELL: Proceedings have been instituted by the police against fifteen persons in this case, and it would be undesirable to enter into particulars while the matter is sub judice.

MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.): Will they be tried by a jury composed of members of the National Irish League?

MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr): Will the right hon. Gentleman find a niche at Madame Tussaud's for the hon. Member?

[No Answer was returned.]

Land Purchase in County Leitrim-
Difficulty of Serving Writs.

MR. LONSDALE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the district around Doura, county Leitrim, there is a general refusal on the part of tenants to pay rent unless landlords consent to sell their properties at tenants' prices or to the Estates Commissioners; that process servers dare not attempt to serve writs or processes; and that on the 12th instant a civil bill officer was driven out of the district; and whether, seeing that the district is in a state of disorder, steps will be taken to enforce the law.

MR. BIRRELL: I have no information as to the payment of rent in this district, but I understand that differences exist between landlords and tenants as to terms of purchase. On 12th February a civil bill officer was serving processes under police protection, when a number

of persons assembled and signified their disapproval by shouting and jeering. No violence, however, was attempted or threatened. The police will afford all necessary protection to civil bill officers in the execution of their duty.

Compensation Claims for Malicious
Injury.

MR. LONSDALE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the number of cases which came before the recent courts of quarter sessions at Limerick, Ballyshannon. Roscommon, Dungarvan, Dundalk, Tralee, Claremorris, Tuam, Ennis, Tullamore, Loughrea, and other places, in which damages were awarded for malicious destruction of property and injury to live stock; whether he will state the number of these cases and the total amount awarded in damages; and whether in any of these cases, and, if so, how many, the police have discovered the perpetrators of the outrages.

MR. BIRRELL: The number of cases in which compensation for malicious injury was awarded at the recent quarter sessions held at the places named was

candidates for the position must have a character from their parish priest; whether this resolution debarred all Protestants and some Nationalists; whether he is aware that the proceedings of the board at the election were very disorderly; and whether, in the circumstances. the appointment will be approved by the Local Government Board.

MR. BIRRELL: I am informed that a resolution to the effect mentioned was passed by the local clergy, but was not adopted by the guardians, with whom the appointment of clerk of the union rests. In advertising for candidates, the guardians placed no restrictions of the nature suggested, and none of the applica

consideration. The Local Government Board are satisfied that the recent election of the clerk was regular and legal, and that the person elected is competent, and they have therefore sanctioned the appointment.

MR. MOORE: Was the resolution not adopted by the rural council?

MR. BIRRELL: I am concerned with the guardians.

MR. MOORE: Surely the right hon. Gentleman knows that the rural council and the guardians are the same?

*MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member is not entitled to give information.

Tubbercurry Evicted Tenant.

:

MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.) I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the question of the reinstatement of John Quinn, an evicted tenant on the Gore Booth estate, situate in Lavagh, Tubbercurry, county Sligo, was by consent of all parties, landlord, evicted tenant, and new occupier left for settlement to the Estates Commissioners in 1905; whether Edward Layng, the present occupier, subscribed his name to a document, witnessed by the Reverend B. J. Quinn, P.P., by which he, Layng, agreed to abide by the decision of the Estates Commissioners as arbitrators in the case; whether, as a result of their investigations, the Commissioners decided to give Mr. Layng a sum of £190 as compensation, or its equivalent value in land; whether he is aware that Layng

MR. BIRRELL: The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have not decided on the adoption of any general practice such as is mentioned in the Question. In dealing with each case which comes before them, they have regard to the particular circumstances of the case.

has refused this offer, although holding in a scheduled congested district, already, fifty-two Irish acres in Lisaneagh, forty in Ballyara, and twenty in Ballyglass; and whether, seeing that the buildings on the Lavagh farm were all erected by the evicted tenant John Quinn, and that Layng is not entitled to any compensation, steps will be taken by the Estates Commissioners to reinstate Quinn and keep Layng up to his agreement.

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that two policemen are now, and have for two years past, been engaged in the work of herding the Quinn evicted farm, situate at Lavagh, Tubbercurry, county Sligo; will he say whether these men are maintained at the public expense; and whether, if the present occupier, Edward Layng, has broken his agreement, by which he bound himself to abide by the decision of the Estates Commissioners in the matter of the reinstatement of the evicted tenant, the Government will now consider the advisability of withdrawing these policemen from the duty in which they are engaged.

MR. BIRRELL: I am informed by the Inspector-General that it has been found necessary for some time past to afford protection by police patrols to Edward Layng, the tenant of the evicted farm in question. It is, It is, however, quite incorrect to suggest that the police have acted as herds of the farm. As regards the first Question, the Estates Commissioners understand that Layng has accepted their proposals for the settlement of the case, and that the evicted tenant will be restored forthwith.

Reinstatement of Evicted Tenants. MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.): On behalf of the hon. Member for South Tipperary, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if it is to be understood that a farmer, who possessed more than one holding, but had been evicted from one because of a rack rent, though having a valuable interest in the place because of the buildings and other improvements having been created by himself or his predecessors, is not to have his claim for reinstatement recognised by the Estates Commissioners, especially where the holding has been taken by a professional grabber.

Kilross Evicted Holding.

MR. DILLON: On behalf of the hon. Member for South Tipperary, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland if he will state the reason why the Estates Commissioners have failed to purchase from Count Moore the evicted holding of Mrs. Moroney, Kilross, Tipperary, and give the amounts demanded by the landlord and offered by the Estates Commissioners.

MR. BIRRELL: The Estates Commissioners upwards of a year ago informed the owner of the price they were prepared to advance for the purchase by the evicted tenant of her former holding, but up to the present the owner has not agreed to accept that price. It is not the practice of the Commissioners to make any public statement as to the prices offered or demanded in such cases.

Professional Grabbers.

MR. DILLON: On behalf of the hon. Member for South Tipperary, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that persons known as professional grabbers have taken evicted holdings, some before but the greater number since the passing of the Land Act of 1903, with the object of levying blackmail on the Estates Commissioners and evicted tenants by demanding compensation for their interests in such holdings; whether he can give an approximate number of those persons with the amounts demanded; and whether he will see that no public money shall be used for remunerating those who attempt to defeat the declared objects of the Land Act regarding evicted tenants.

MR. BIRRELL: The Estates Commissioners inform me that they are not aware of any such practice as is referred to in the Question. If any specific case of the kind should be brought to their notice, they would inquire into it.

any

Dopping Estate, County Longford. MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether proposal has yet been made to or by the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of the Dopping estate at Derrycarsan, county Longford: and, if so, will care be taken to protect the interests of the evicted tenants on that property.

MR. BIRRELL: Proceedings for the sale of this estate have been instituted before the Estates Commissioners, who will pay due regard to the claims of the evicted tenants when they are dealing with the estate.

Roberts Estate, Newtown Cashel. MR. J. P. FARRELL: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any negotiations have been entered into by the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of the Roberts estate at Newtown Cashel, county Longford.

MR. BIRRELL: The Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings have been instituted before them for the purchase of this estate.

Churchtown Labourers Cottage Sites. MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board take sufficient precautions with regard to the selection. of sites marked out for labourers cottages and plots of land; is the Board aware that at the last meeting of the Mallow District Council, held to consider representations under The Labourers' Act,

1906, the labourers complained that three sites marked out at Churchtown were unsuitable as being swampy bad land; whether the inspectors exercise proper care in the selection of these sites; will the Board entertain an appeal made on behalf of these labourers; and whether, with a view to the proper and economical working of an Act intended to improve

MR. BIRRELL: The selection of sites

to be included in an improvement scheme rests with the rural district council, and

not with the Local Government Board's

inspector, as the question supposes. When, however, a scheme has been framed, it is submitted to the inspector for approval and he rejects any sites which he finds to be unsuitable. The Local Government Board have already issued a circular to rural district councils giving full instructions for the guidance of the local committees appointed to select the sites. I have sent a copy of the circular to the hon. Member.

Section 7, Irish Land Act, 1887.

MR. FLYNN: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has been aware that, during the quarter ended 30th September, 1906, 711 tenancies were determined in Ireland under Section 7 of The Land Act, 1887, and 2,191 during the whole of the year 1906; and whether, in view of the recent land legislation involving the transfer of holdings from owner to occupier, the Government will consider the advisability of repealing a section under which so many occupiers are deprived of all legal rights under the Land Purchase and all other Land Acts from 1881 onwards.

the Question are correctly taken from the MR. BIRRELL: The figures quoted in Returns presented to Parliament. I find that the hon. Member put a similar predecessor informed him of the reasons question on 20th March last,† when my why the Government does not intend to mentioned. The section provided a right propose the repeal of the section within a period of six months, and upon of redemption which may be exercised such exercise all rights are restored to the tenant. Of the 2,191 persons served with eviction notices under Section 7 in

1906, only 124, or about 5 per cent., were advised that a repeal of the section might actually evicted. The Government are

See (4) Debates, cliv., 228-9.