HC Deb 01 April 1890 vol 343 cc392-3
DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the professional valuer appointed by the Land Com missioners, as reported in Cork Herald, to inquire into the security offered by the holdings on the estate of Mr. H. B. O'Sullivan at Rahonna and Kilnamartyra, County Cork, for the repayment of the advance, from which it appears that the purchase money offered by the tenants was excessive, and that the combined interests of the tenants and landlord were not deemed by the valuer security for the money; whether it is a fact that the terms of purchase agreed upon by the tenants would have brought down the yearly payments to nearly 50 percent. under the present rents; whether it is true that the rental in question was determined and enforced by the Receiver Department of the Chancery Court, and that many tenants were evicted by the Court in default of payment of rack rents; and whether it is his intention to take any notice of the Report of the professional valuer?

MR. MADDEN

I have not seen the newspaper statement referred to; but the Land Commissioners inform me that any such statement would be wholly unauthorised, inasmuch as the Reports of their Inspectors under the Purchase of Land Acts are confidential documents. It is a fact that the Commissioners, not being satisfied with the security, refused the applications referred to, and that the terms of the purchase would have brought down the yearly payments considerably. The Chief Receiver's Department inform me that the rental of the estate was not determined there, but was furnished to the Department in the ordinary way when the management of the estate was taken over, and that one tenant only has been actually evicted.

DR. TANNER

Is it not the fact, as stated in the second paragraph of the question, that the terms of purchase agreed upon by the tenants would have brought down the yearly payments to nearly 50 per cent. under the present rents?

MR. MADDEN

I have already stated that the rents would have been considerably brought down.

DR. TANNER

Is it not the fact that these tenants have been obliged to pay, again and again, these excessive sums of money, and that many tenants have been evicted in default of the payment of rack-rents?

MR. MADDEN

One tenant only was evicted. I presume that the others paid the rents.