THE IRISH LAND ACT

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1029, 28 January 1882, Page 4

THE IRISH LAND ACT

The Irish Land Commissioners have issued a statement of the benefits conferred by the Land Act (Ireland), 1881, upon the Irish tenant-farmers. These benefits are first thus briefly described: Faib Rent. —Every existing tenant from year to year in Ireland of an ordinary agricultural or pastoral holding is entitled to have a fair rent fixed for his holding, either by the County Court Judge or by the Land Commission, or it may be settled by agreement with the landlord, or by arbitration. Security of Tenure. —Whenever a fair rent is fixed, either by the court or commission, or by agreement, or by arbitration, the rent cannot be raised or altered for 15 years, nor can the tenant be disturbed during that period. In the last year of the 15 years the tenant can again get the rent settled, and a new term of 15 years, granted, and so on. It is not, therefore, merely a term of 15 years which the tenant gets, but practically a term renewable every 15 years. It amounts to this, that the tenant paying a fair rent and treating the land in a proper tenantable way, and not subdividing or subletting his farm, will be safe from eviction or arbitrary increase of rent, and his rent cannot be increased by reason of his own improvements. Sale of Tenancies. —Every tenant may sell his tenancy to one person at the best price he ean get, but the landlord is to have first the right of buying, at a price either agreed on between the parties or to be fixed by the court. Acquisition of the Holding out-and-out by the Tenant. —There are provisions in the Act authorising the Land Commission to advance money to tenants to enable them to purchase their holdings and become absolute owners of them. Fixed Leases. —There are also provisions enabling tenants for life and other limited owners to give leases in perpetuity to tenants. The privileges conferred are then described in detail, under the headings “ Fair Rent and Security of Tenure,” “ Arrears of Rent,” “ Pending Ejectments,” “ Leaseholders,” “ Unfair Leases,” “ Judicial Leases,” “ Fixed Tenancies,” “Labourers,” “Acquisition of Land—Peasant Proprietors,” and “ Emigration.” Upon all these points the clauses of the Bill are explained in language easily understood. The summary concludes : — “ The above are some of the greater advantages conferred on Irish tenant farmers by the Land Act (Ireland), 1881, which provides for all security in their holdings, the fixing of fair rents, and the right of free sale; and affords the opportunity to occupiers to become the owners in fee of their holdings. It is not intended by the foregoing statement to set forth or include all the provisions of the Act, but only to afford a general view of its more important provisions. Any person requiring information can apply (by letter) to the Secretary, Land Commission, 24, U pper Merrion-street, Dublin.”