CHAPTER V

THE QUESTION OF THE IRISH LAND (_continued_)--THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE IRISH LAND ACTS

The administration of the Land Act of 1870 in the main good--Difficulty about claims for tenants' improvements--The administration of the Land Act of 1881, and of its supplements--The Land Commission and its Sub-Commissions-- Allowances to be made for these tribunals--Principles which the Land Commission should have adopted in fixing 'fair rents'--The procedure and practice it ought to have established--It made mistakes as to both--The nature of the Sub-Commission Courts--This was objectionable in the highest degree--These Courts have, however unconsciously, done grave wrong to Irish landlords--Causes of this--Characteristics of their proceedings--They disregarded the principles they ought to have followed, and adopted faulty and erroneous methods--Different illustrations of these grave mistakes-- The Land Commission and appeals as to 'fair rent'--Importance of this subject--Faulty procedure of the Land Commission in appeals--Valuers--The second Land Commission--Its procedure worse than that of the first--Theory of occupation right-- This another wrong done to landlords--The Fry Commission and its report--Confiscation of the property of Irish landlords--The proofs of this--Apologies made for the Land Commission--The administration of the Land Purchase Acts 188-229