§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the fact that Lord Ely's Estate is in the English Court of Chancery and cannot be sold without the consent of that Court; and, whether he can hold out any hope that the Irish Land Purchase Acts will be so amended as to provide for the sale of Irish estates that are in the English Court of Chancery.
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir. But I cannot anticipate discussion on the contents of the forthcoming Bill.
§ MR. FFRENCHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that the tenants of Lord Ely's South Wexford estate recently held a meeting for the purpose of considering the advisability of making their landlord an offer for the purchase of their holdings, and that the public advertisement calling the meeting stated that the tenants' solicitor would be present to tender to the tenants any legal assistance they require; whether the police have instructions to watch tenants who meet to discuss the question of purchasing their holdings; and, if not, will he say who was responsible for the attendance of 15 policemen at the meeting, and what was their object.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe police have no instructions to watch tenants who attend meetings for the purpose stated. They were present on this occasion because a large concourse of people was expected, and with the sole object of maintaining the peace. They were sent on the requisition of the Local Authorities responsible for the preservation of the peace.