§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant for Ireland, whether he is aware that, of the Ponsonby evicted tenants who early this year signed their agreements to purchase under Section 13, only ten have been put into possession, while the great majority are still out of their farms, with the result that these people have been deprived of all opportunity 1563 of using the land this year: and, whether he will take this into consideration with a view to making some compensation to these tenants for this long delay.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURLittle more than three months have elapsed since the agreements were lodged, and I am informed there has been no unnecessary delay on the part of the Land Commission in the matter. About 30 of the former tenants have been put into possession, not ten as stated in the Question. As to the second paragraph, there has, as I have stated, been no avoidable delay on the part of the Land Commission, and the tenants have certainly no claim against the Government for compensation.
§ MR. DILLONasked the right hon. Gentleman if he could give any indication as to when the remainder of the tenants might expect to be put in possession.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURcould give no decided answer, but could assure the hon. Member that the matter would be dealt with as rapidly as possible.