§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in 1893 the tenants on the estate of Lord Annally, in the county of Longford, were induced to sign undertakings to purchase their holdings when called on to do so, and that under that arrangement they were to continue paying the old rents until the agreements were signed; could he ascertain what is the cause of the delay in having these agreements signed, the property having passed under a receiver, who alleges that their undertaking to purchase prevents them entering court to have a rent fixed; and can he move the Land Commission to direct an immediate inquiry into this matter with a view to a remedy?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIn answer to the hon. Member's previous questions on this subject last Session, I stated that the estate had been inspected by the Land Commission, and that, as to a large number of tenants, advances were sanctioned by the Commission subject to the rental being settled to enable them to make an offer to purchase from the Land Judge. The delay entirely occurred in the settlement of the rental. The Registrar of the Land Judge's Court was informed by the solicitor having carriage of the proceedings that the rental is now settled in draft, and that a copy for the Judge's signature will be ready in a day or two.