§ MR. SEXTON (Sligo, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Government, in dealing with the case of the Irish glebe purchasers, will have regard to the condition of tenants who held their farms on terminable leases, and purchased them under the Church Act, by paying one - fourth of the purchase money, and giving an instalment mortgage for the remaining three-fourths; and, if the Government will consider whether such tenants should be admitted to participate in the relief provided by section twenty-three of "The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1885," and whether some relief should be afforded to such tenants and all yearly tenants who similarly purchased, in respect of the one-fourth of the purchase money paid down, and the excess of the price paid over the true value?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I have obtained a good many replies to inquiries on the subject mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, and there will be great difficulty, probably insuperable difficulty, in the way of reducing the principal money agreed to be paid by the tenants. I am also informed that such a course would seriously affect the financial position of the Commissioners. I have consulted with my 97 hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury as to the relaxation under the 23rd section of the Purchase Act, with a view to making provision for the relief of purchasers who have not paid their instalments. For that relaxation I will co-operate with my hon. Friend.