§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now give the valuation of the farms in each province in Ireland which, according to his estimate, will be excluded by Clause 6 of the Land Purchase Bill as pasture and as held by non-resident tenants?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURFor all Ireland the farms excluded as non-resident are roughly estimated at 12,000, with a valuation of £604,000. They are made up thus:—Ulster 2,500, with a valuation of £67,000; Leinster, 3,300, valuation £238,000; Munster, 3,400, valuation £152,000; Connaught, 2,800, valuation £147,000. For all Ireland the farms excluded as pasture are roughly estimated at 52,000, with a valuation, roughly speaking, of £2,000,000. I have not yet got this total divided into provinces. It must be borne in mind that the two classes overlap, and that some farms excluded as grazing are independently excluded as non-residential. Of course too much reliance must not be placed on these figures, which at best are merely an approximation.
§ MR. KNOXThe figures given by the right hon. Gentleman now differ somewhat from those which he gave in answer to a similar question the other day.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is quite possible, but I have not got the terms of 1853 my former answer. As I have said, the figures are only an approximation.
§ MR. T. M. . HEALY(Longford, N.) May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will lay this valuable and interesting information on the Table of the House in the form of a Return?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe information is not of such an authentic nature that it ought to be included in a Return. I only give it as an approximate.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY"Without the information being binding upon the right hon. Gentleman, will he give it quantum valeat?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think that that would be a good practice.