HL Deb 20 March 1911 vol 7 cc536-8
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE

My Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government whether any investments have been sanctioned by the Public Trustee under the Irish Land Act, 1909, in addition to those mentioned in the list given by the Chief Secretary in another place on 6th July last; and, if the answer is in the affirmative, to ask for a list of such investments.

The noble Earl who represents the Irish Office has been good enough to allow me to speak with him privately on the subject of my Question, and I should like also to ask whether His Majesty's Government could see their way to let us know the facts such as I ask for this afternoon at periodical intervals. The information is of great value to landlords when they are receiving capital money through the Estates Commissioners as the result of sales, and if the noble Earl could see his way to lay a list on the Table or publish it at quarterly or other convenient intervals, it would be of great convenience to all concerned.

LORD ORANMORE AND BROWNE

My Lords, perhaps before the noble Earl replies to my noble friend's Question he will allow me to ask whether His Majesty's Government have any intention of introducing legislation for the purpose of allowing trustees in Great Britain to take advantage of the section in the Irish Land Act which permits investment in securities which at present are not permitted to trust funds in this country.

THE EARL OF GRANARD

My Lords, the securities sanctioned by the Public Trustee (Ireland) under the Irish Land Act, 1909, in addition to those mentioned in the list given by the Chief Secretary on July 6, 1910, are thirty-nine in number—viz.: Argentine Government 4.½per Cent. Internal Gold Loan, 1888; Argentine Government 4 per Cent. Rescission Bonds; Argentine Government 5 per Cent. 1884 Bonds; Argentine Government 4 per Cent. 1897 Bonds; Brazilian Government 4 per Cent. 1910 Loan; Brazilian Government 4½ per Cent. 1888 Loan; Brazilian Government 5 per Cent. 1908 Loan; Brazilian Government 5 per Cent. 1895 Loan; Cuban Government 4? per Cent. Gold Bonds; Chilian Government 5 per Cent. 1905 Loan; Chilian Government 5 per Cent. 1896 Bonds; Chinese Government 5 per Cent. 1896 Gold Bonds; Chinese Government 5 per Cent. Tientsin-Pukow Railway Loan; Chilian Government 5 per Cent. New Loan; Egyptian Government 3½per Cent. Preference; Greek Government 4 per Cent. Railway Loan, 1902; Mexican Government 5 per Cent. Gold Loan; Russian Government 4½ per Cent. Gold 1909 Loan; Siamese. Government. 4½ per Cent. Sterling Bonds; Salvador Republic 6 per Cent. Sterling Bonds; Spanish Government 4 per Cent. Sealed Bonds; San Paulo 5 per Cent. Treasury Bonds; Uruguay 3½per Cent. Bonds; Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company 4 per Cent. First Mortgage Gold Bonds; Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 4½per Cent. 20 Years, Convertible Gold Bonds; Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway 4 per Cent. General Mortgage Bonds, 1989; Illinois Central Railway 4 per Cent. Gold loads, 1933; Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault St. Marie Railway 4 per Cent. First Mortgage Gold Bonds; New York Central and Michigan Collateral 3½per Cent. 1998 Gold Bonds; Norfolk and Western Railway 4 per Cent. First Lien and General Mortgage 1944 Gold Bonds; Pennsylvania Railway 4 per Cent. Consolidated Mortgage Bonds, 1948; Southern Pacific Railway 4 per Cent. Central Pacific Collateral Gold Bonds; Southern Pacific Railway 4 per Cent. 20 Years Convertible Gold Bonds; Southern Pacific Railway 4 per Cent. First Refunding, Gold Bonds; Union Pacific Railway 4 per Cent. First Lien and Refunding Mortgage Gold Bonds; Argentine Great Western Railway 4 per Cent. First Debenture Stock; Argentine Great Western Railway 4 per Cent. Second Irredeemable Debenture Stock; Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway 4 per Cent. First. Debenture Stock; and the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway 4½per Cent. Second Debenture Stock.

In reply to the noble Earl's second Question, I am glad to be able to inform him that the additions to the list will in future be published quarterly. It is only right for me to say in this respect that when these publications take place, either by Return or reply to Questions in the House, the fact does not absolve in any way intending investors from getting sanction from the Public Trustee. As the result of the answer given in another place on July 6 last year a great many trustee investors seemed to think that they were absolved from the necessity of obtaining permission, and I only mention that this is not so in order to bring the matter to the notice of the public. The noble Lord on the Cross Benches (Lord Oranmore and Browne) will, I am sure, readily understand that I am not in a position to answer his question off-hand, but I will undertake to see that his suggestion is brought to the notice of the public Department concerned.