IS
928 EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED 9th September, 1844.
haven there has been a system of holding farms m common ; but generaUy speaking *t
——-not in joint tenancy.
There are none upon my estate ; I am fcotaUy against it GeneilT EicW White esa
sPoaldn£> l siTld saY*10t; klt in Bearhavon it is a very common practice, and at Castle!
' i' town below Grlongarrifr.
19.
What in general is the condition of the tenantry holding upon those farms, eonrnar 1 to those holding upon separate farms ?—It
is far better that the people should hold
& separate tenantry, not as joint tenants.
I do not think there is any difference in the cond7 tion of the people; but if you want to serve notices it is very difficult.
If there are eleven partners thoy must each be served.
That is the only difficulty, for they understand each other very wcH in those cases.
I am speaking from information; I have no personal know ledge of it, and 1 am alluding to another district when giving that information.
20.
In what manner, throughout this district, is the rent fixed when the lands are out of lease ?—They
generally take it, except the town fields, in a lump ; they give you so much by the lump.
The boundaries are defined by the tenants who have been m it, and there is very Httlo change in the boundaries.
21.
How is the rent ascertained in the district?—It
is generaUy by proposal.
I have not clone so.
My habit is valuation.
22.
What class of persons do you employ to value ?—I
generaUy take the upper descrip¬ tion of farmers under my own inspection, ancl go with them.
23.
What should you say through the .district
was the usual rent of average good land?—
About the town of Bantry, in the town parks, £2 an acre, or 30s.,
the English acre: it is all the EngHsh acre about here.
24.
What proportion does the usual letting value bear to the poor law valuation ?—We
have not had a coHection at present under the poor law valuation, and we are rather in the dark how it will operate.
Thero will be a collection shortly..
We have the farms valued in the lump, as they have been set in the lmnp, and upon that valuation there is a poundage struck.
I should say that our grand jury cess, upon the average for the last seven years, has been at least twelve per cent.,
ancl that our poor law rate and the rent-charge will be five per cent.,
that is seventeen per cent.
But I consider that the poor law valuation is not in any degree a relative valuation, or in any manner to be rehed upon.
I should say, generaUy speaking, that it would be far better, whenever we are to be taxed m Ireland, that a few of our neighbours from England should come over, ancl get the best mformation, and put a fair valuation upon the land; for the class of men appointed are not fit men to do it.
25.
What is the general opinion as to the valuation for thc county cess ?—I
think it any tiling but an eqiutable, or just, or fan* one.
The county cess has been struck nineteen years in this barony, and it is the most unjust one ever known.
In then* bunghng they left out a ploughland, which has not paid 6d.
of the rate—they forgot it, I suppose.
The grand jury laws in Ireland, and particularly in the county of Cork, require more consideration than any thing we have touched upon.
I am sorry to say, when the grand jury laws were framed for Ireland, it appears that thc county of Cork was never thought of at all.
Wo have a very large district.
Wo have twenty-three baronies and half-baronies in the county; and though tho county affords twelve grand juries of twenty hitelligent men, it is confined to two or three sets of men, who generally constitute the grand jury of the county, and who havo to raise from £90,000 to £100,000 a year, by grand jury presentments—that is, in tho two levies in the year.
Wc have five clays allowed for the fiscal business of thc county at each assizes, and I do not consider that, taking into consideration the matters to be discussed, it is sufficient to clo justice to the country.
26.
Is it not in the power of the sheriff to givo more than five days ?—No,
he cannot do that.
The business is hurried over too much at the end.
That is the great error.
_ 27.
Do you find that the business of the county is facilitated by the road sessions?—
There is no doubt that it is in a great degree; but there aro very great evils to be com¬ plained of at the road sessions.
I will name some of them to you.
For instance, every magistrate has a vote at the road sessions, because he is a magistrate.
I consider that unjust, I do not think it a fair thing for a magistrate to go ancl vote in a district where he has no property.
Further, you are aware, thero are a certain number of cess-payers appointed to sit with the magistrates at tho road sessions.
Those are chosen at the previous sessions.
Those men are always chosen by tho gentlemen who represent the barony.
Suppose myself, I put down all the tenants who will support any measure I wish to carry.
I should suggest thc putting 100 names into a hat, and to draw them out by chance, by ballot, and then nobody knows who they are to bo; whereas now they know it six months before, and they are generally in a class of Hfe not fit to be entrusted with a vote.
.
28.
Has there been any consolidation of farms in the district ?—Not
that I am aware ot.
29.
With respect to the condition of tho farming population, are the large farmers getting richer in the world ?—Indeed
I would say not.
I think myself that they are not.
They have not capital to work these largo tracts, ancl I am perfectly convinced tliat tn rents are paid by the small farmers far belter.
.
,-, 30.
Are the smaH farmers getting richer ?—Wherever
they have had leases given to tnem, they are in a much bettor condition than those who have not; for their eonchtion is v low indeed, particularly for an Englishman to witness, compared to his own countiy.
31.
What is the condition of the labourers ?—Nothing
can bo worse, ^ a^J V£ very happy if they can got constant work throughout the year at 8d.
a day—those a men, That will give you some idoa of their condition,
