Law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland: minutes of evidence: part II

Back to Search Bibliographic Data Print
TO INQUIRE INTO THE OCCUPATION OF LAND IN IRELAND. 
9(59 The houghing cattle and burning the houses are always done by having the old occupying 10th Sept., 
1844. 
tenants turned out. 

' ° 

32. 
When those tenants were turned out did thev owe much rent ?—I 
could not swear 

^^k> to that. 

" Clmvles M'Car%* 33. 
Could you say that they did not?-—No 
; I could not say that they did, or did not, for I do not know. 
34. 
Can you suggest any mode of curing those evils of which you complain ? 
I know right well if thc farmers of Ireland got their ground at a fair valuation and a middling good term of their ground, that would be the only thing to stop all theso evils. 
35. 
You think that the people would improve if they got those thing* ?—Ye*. 
36. 
And be quiet ?—Yes, 
to the best of my opinion. 
If I build a good house to day I will be noticed when the landlord sees my houso built; ho may notice me ancl turn me out. 
37. 
If you were sure of being paid for your house or any thing else you built, would you be as well satisfied as with a lease ?—Yes. 
If there was payment for me I would build three houses whore I built one, or even if I was compensated for part of them. 

[ The ivitness withdreio?] 
Mr. 
John Hayes, sworn and examined. 
*S3a 1. 
Where do you live ?—At 
Tralong, near Rosscarbory, in this county. 

Mr' John :EIa;ves 2. 
Are you a farmer ?—Yes. 
3. 
How much land do you hold?—About 
140 acres altogether. 
4. 
Is agriculture improving in your neighbourhood ?—Not 
much. 
5. 
Is the tenure in your neighbourhood generally at will, or by lease ?—Most 
of them at will. 
6. 
What effect has the mode of tenure on the condition of the tenants, or the improvement of their farms ?—It 
has a great effect. 
They have no encouragement to improve the land ; he may be turned out, and another put in his place to-morrow. 
7. 
Are thero many turned out in that way in that neighbourhood ?—YTes. 
8. 
Without owing any rent?—I 
do not say that; but a man after improving his land, if he does not give a higher rent he will bo dispossessed. 
9. 
Have you seen many instances of that ?—No 
; a few. 
10. 
Have you known any cases of that kind lately?—Not 
of late. 
I hold a farm myself under a gentleman ; I havo improved if greatly: I demanded a lease, ancl he does not scorn willing to give it; and it is my opinion that that may occur hereafter to myself. 
I have improved it greatly, and put plenty of seeds into it. 

11. 
Did ho refuse to give you a lease?—He 
did not seem willing to give it. 
I demanded it frequently. 
12. 
What is the condition of thc largo farmers in the neighbourhood ?—Wc 
have not many large farmers. 
13. 
Arc the farmers improving ?—No, 
they are not. 
The state of the farmers is worse than that of tho poor labouring men. 
If there is a labouring man who gets constant employ¬ ment from tho farmers ho will bo better off than the farmers, because he will have his diet from tho employer. 
14. 
Have you any suggestions of any measures that would remedy those evils you complain of?—T 
think if we could get our land at a fair valuation it would bo very useful, and there would be no bad work, and to get a lease of it. 

15. 
If there was a law passed that would entitle you to remuneration for all your improve¬ ments in case of being turned out, would you be well satisfied with it without a lease?— 
Yes; for I would never bo turned out—the improvements would cover ten or twelve years rent. 
The improvements I have done these twenty years would never bo paid, and I would be left my land; and would it not bo a pity that a man who bad improved his land should be turned out, and that it should be handed over to an idle fellow ? 
I have no charge as against my landlord, except that I am obliged to pay the rent, and the times are hard, but it is according to our bargain. 
16. 
Has he raised thc rent upon you ?—No; 
not since I came to him. 
It was raised enough before that. 
The tenant before me was broken. 
I got it at the same rent; it was tight enough. 

[The witness withdrew.] 
Bandon, Wednesday, 11th September, 1S44. 
llth Sept., 
1844. 
Mashehjne Alcoch, esq., 
sworn and examined. 
7$*<S* 1. 
Where clo you reside ?—Rough 
Grove, three miles from Banclon. 

. 
, » 

M" Alc°ck'esq" 2. 
What is your occupation ?—-I 
cultivate a large portion of my own property m fee farm, about 300 statute acres, and I am also a magistrate of the county. 
3. 
What is tho district with which you are so well acquainted as to be able to give us information ?—I 
am particularly acquainted with the barony of Kmalmcaky, and .all 
tho neighbourhood of thc town of Bandon; and I have a very good knowledge of tbe electoral districts to the north of the Bandon river, that belonged to our poor law union. 
4. 
What should you say was the general description of tho district ?—The 
union is very extensive, and runs to the sea coast, and runs north, Tho farms to the north of tho town 

Part IT, 

G H