§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Land Commission were aware of it that Thomas Whelan, who has applied to the Land Commission for an advance to purchase a holding at Ballinafina, County Waterford, stated on oath at the Presentment Sessions held at Carrickbeg on the 12th of May last, that he got possession of the holding in question on the 26th of February, 1894, and that prior to getting possession he signed the agreement to purchase; whether, if the facts are as stated, the Land Purchase Acts apply to such cases; whether, under the circumstances, the Land Commission, before making the advance, will make further inquiries into this case, and ascertain if any misrepresentation has been made to 1627 them; and whether the annuity to which Whelan will be subject if this sale is carried through will be £40, whereas the rent, for the non-payment of which the former tenant was evicted, was £79 a year?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Land Purchase Acts only apply to enable tenants in occupation to purchase. An agreement to purchase where no tenancy or occupation under it existed and then the creation of a tenancy to carry it out would be improper and an evasion of the Acts. I have received a Report from the Land Commission, but am making further inquiries in the matter.