HC Deb 07 April 1902 vol 105 cc1135-6
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that ejectment notices have been served by the receiver under the Land Judge upon the tenants of the Conolly estate, Ballyshannon, who are about to become purchasers of their holdings under the 40th section of the Irish Land Act of 1896, the Land Judge having requested the Land Commission upwards of a year ago to have the estate valued, with a view to the sale thereof to the tenants, and the valuation being now almost complete; whether he is aware that in the case of some of these tenants, who served, upwards of two years ago, originating notices for the fixing of fair rents, the hearing of their applications has been postponed at the request of the estate solicitor, on the ground that the fixing of fair rents would delay the sale to the tenants, and that in the case of other tenants the receiver has discouraged the serving of originating notices; and whether, having regard to the opposition by the receiver and solicitor of the estate to the hearing of applications for the fixing of fair rents or the issuing of originating notices on the part of the tenants for this purpose, any measures can be taken to expedite the sale to the tenants of this estate, and while that sale is pending to stay ejectment proceedings against them.

MR. ATKINSON

I am informed that after the Land Judge had issued his request for an inspection of this estate, pursuant to the 40th section, the tenants, with a few exceptions only, withheld payment of their rents. The receiver, in consequence, was obliged to serve notices in ejectment. The pendency of proceedings under the 40th section affords no justification for suspension of the payment of rent, and if rent is withheld, as in the present instance, then steps must necessarily be taken to enforce payment. Both the receiver and the solicitors having carriage of the sale repudiate the statement that they have discouraged or opposed the issue of originating notices to fix fair rents. As a matter of fact, a large number of such notices have been served.