§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the Salters' Company are enforcing payment of promissory notes for arrears given before the sale of the Magherafelt Estate; and, if any such action on their part is in accordance with the Land Purchase Act?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)It is the fact that, in certain cases, the Salters' Company are endeavouring to enforce payment of the promissory notes referred to. As regards the second paragraph, four test cases are now before the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, as to whether these arrears can be legally recovered. I may add that these cases refer to the early days of the Ashbourne Act, and Rules are now laid down which render their recurrence impossible.