§ MR. J. J. SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many writs and civil bills for the recovery of instalments of annuities payable under the Land Purchase (Ireland) Acts have been issued since 1st March, 1896, at the suit of the Irish Land Commission; and whether the Land Commission can show more consideration by giving purchasers who are in difficulties at least until the gale day next after an instalment has become due for the payment of it?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Commissioners are unable to state without communicating with their local agents throughout Ireland the number of writs and civil bills that have been issued in the period mentioned for the recovery of instalments of tenant purchasers' annuities. The Commissioners state, however, that in all cases in which it may have been found necessary to commence proceedings the arrears were paid with very 751 few exceptions. It is the duty of the Land Commission to recover instalments of purchase annuities as they accrue, and the suggestion that a hanging gale should be allowed is not one that could be acceded to.