§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state what number of loans have been sanctioned under the Laud Purchase Acts and have not yet been issued, and what is the number of applications for these loans which was received before the 1st January, 1902; why no attention has been paid to the recommendation in paragraph 37 of the Fry Commission Report, that the whole rules and practice in the Land Purchase Department should be reconsidered, with the view of making them more simple, and lessening delays; and will he provide that the Land Commission shall, without legislation, adopt the practice proposed in the Land Purchase Acts Amendment Bill, and separate 285 the proof of title to sell from the ascertainment of the claims on the purchase-money, so as to vest holdings agreed to be sold without waiting till the purchase-money is ready to be distributed.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe annual Report of the Land Commission brought down to the 31st March last, which was recently presented to Parliament, and will be in the hands of Members in a few days, shows that 40,747 applications for £11,853,218 have been provisionally sanctioned. Of these,. 36,994 loans for £10,809,190 have been issued. Proceedings are pending in 3,753 cases for £3,044.028. Similar information to the earlier date mentioned by the hon. Member is not at the present moment available. But, if he so desires, it will be prepared. The Commissioners from time to time have made such alterations in the practice and procedure as, in the absence of legislation, were within their power, and were deemed advisable by them to make, with a view to facilitating and lessening the costs and delay of proceedings under the Land Purchase Acts.