§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What proportion of the advances under Lord Ashbourne's Act of 1885 was for the purchase of holdings annually rented, first, between £30 and £50; second between £10 and £30; and, third, under £10?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Land Purchase Commissioners inform me that the proportion of holdings in respect of which advances have been made under the Statute referred to is as follows:—Annual rent exceeding £30 and not exceeding £50, 884 holdings; annual rent £10 and not exceeding £30, 3,234 holdings; annual rent under £10, 3,599 holdings.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman be kind enough to supplement that answer by laying a Return, in a form which I have privately suggested, classifying the size of the holdings purchased, and specifying the average number of years' purchase under each class, the amount of advances upon each class, and the amount advanced in each county?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROn receiving the right hon. Gentleman's letter last night I telegraphed over to the Commissioners to ask if that could be done. I have not received their answer; but I should hope and believe that it can be done. I would, however, suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that he should substitute the amount of the valuation for the acreage, because acreage indicates nothing. Thirty acres of mountain land, for instance, are very different to rich arable land.
§ Subsequently,
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYsaid: I wish to ask the Chief Secretary, whether it will be possible by Monday, or on an 1224 early day next week, to have the important Return of which I gave him Notice at the beginning of Questions?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he would do his best to have the Return furnished as soon as possible.