§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, when the £40,000 appropriated by the Land Purchase Act, 1891, for the erection of labourers' cottages will become available for distribution among the various unions?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURUnder Section 5 of the Act of 1891 the Exchequer contribution of £40,000 a year becomes available this year for the first time for the purpose of the erection of labourers' cottages. It now devolves upon the Lord Lieutenant to make regulations for the application of the Grant. When these regulations were about being made a flaw was discovered in the Purchase of Land Act, in order to remedy which Section 33 has been introduced into the Land Law (Ireland) Bill now before the House. Unless that amendment of the law is carried, the unions which have provided labourers' cottages, between the date of the passing of the Act of 1891 and the 1st of January 1896, would not be entitled to participate in the relief of their financial burdens which the Grant was designed to afford.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe money will be available in any case. The particular distribution depends upon whether this amendment of the law passes or not.