HC Deb 23 August 1894 vol 29 cc368-9
MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)

On behalf of the hon. and learned Member for North Louth, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been drawn to a letter published by His Eminence Cardinal Logue respecting the Irish Land and Migration Company and the dealings of the Government therewith, especially as to the free gift of £50,000 by the State; and will any explanation be called for from any person concerned, or is it intended to take any notice of or call for any reply to the statements of His Eminence?

MR. J. MORLEY

My attention was, of course, directed to the correspondence to which my hon. Friend refers, which has excited a good deal of interest. I am in communication with the Treasury on the subject, and I think that a correspondence is now in progress between the Treasury and the Land Commission.

MR. SEXTON

So little is known about this matter, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is true that the Land Commission, after receiving £43,000 as mortgagees, applied to the Vice Chancellor; whether the Vice Chancellor appointed a liquidator; whether the liquidator is receiving the rents and annuities of the tenants in discharge of the advance from the State, and whether the Land Commission are proceeding for the principal or for arrears of interest?

MR. J. MORLEY

My hon. Friend is perfectly correct in his account of this transaction in its present circumstances. The Vice Chancellor appointed a liquidator at the instance of the Land Commission, and I understand that there is a possibility, in respect of the unpaid portion of the shares, that the members of the association may be called upon to pay the full measure of liability; but I am not able to say whether the Commission are proceeding to recover arrears, or otherwise.

MR. SEXTON

I trust that the right hon. Gentleman will think it right to point out to the Land Commission the inexpediency of levying calls upon the shareholders in respect to the whole principal.

MR. J. MORLEY

As my hon. Friend knows, this is really not an Irish Office matter. I will wait to see the effect of the communications between the Treasury and the Land Commission before deciding what course to take. It probably will be not far from that indicated by my hon. Friend.