§ MR. BLANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to a meeting of the labourers and cottiers of County Armagh, held at Derrycorr on 3rd August, in which, as reported in the Lurgan Times, they requested the Government to have the Land Law amended, so that whatever terms were given farmers in purchasing their holdings should also be conceded to the labourers for the purchase of their cottages and plots of garden, repayable in 49 years at four per cent interest; and, if the Government would consider the matter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Government are not aware of any meeting of the kind referred to in the question, and, moreover, I do not see that I can add anything to the reply which I gave to a question of the hon. Member on the 26th of July.
§ MR. BLANEAll I ask is that the right hon. Gentleman will give to the labourers the same terms as those which are given to the farmers.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman must himself see that it would be premature for the Government to pledge themselves in regard to the provisions of any Bill which they may hereafter bring before the House.
§ MR. BLANEI merely ask that the same facilities should be given by the Government to the labourers as those which are given to the farmers. I do not ask for more.