§ MR. M. MCCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is intended to acquire part of the lands of Ballykinlar, near Dundrum, county Down, for a military range; whether any, and, if so, what offer has been made to buy out the respective interests of the landlord and tenants of these lands; whether the lands are to be taken compulsorily under the provisions of the Defence Act or by agreement with the tenants and the landlord; and whether there is likely to be any encampment or musketry practice there during the present year?
MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSIt is intended to acquire part of the lands at Ballykinlar for a rifle range; but compulsory acquisition will not be resorted to if reasonable agreements with the landlord and tenants can be arrived at from the negotiations now going on. It is scarcely probable that the ground will be ready for encampment or musketry practice during the present year.