§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether, since the Court of Exchequer in Ireland decided that 3⅛ per cent was the interest legally payable by tenants to the landlords for interest on purchase money, under Lord Ashbourne's Act, during the interval between the agreement to buy and 1592 its being sanctioned by the Purchase Commissioners, the Government intend to support a proposal to increase the rate of interest to 4 per cent.; and, is there any Rule requiring the tenants to be protected by the advice of an independent solicitor, or is it the general practice that the landlord's solicitor acts for both the tenant, who is buying, and the landlord, who is selling out?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)I am making inquiries on the subject of the decision to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers. He will see that it would be premature for me to make a statement as to the course which the Government will be prepared to take with reference to the Lords' Amendment. There is no such rule as that referred to in the Question. In many cases the same solicitor acts for both parties; but I cannot state that any general practice exists in this matter.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYAre we likely to have the information before the Lords' Amendment comes on to-night?
§ MR. MADDENBefore the matter is discussed I hope to have the information.