HC Deb 28 April 1904 vol 133 cc1451-2
MR. ROCHE (Galway. E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the nature of the agreement entered into in May, 1902, in the Land Judge's Court by Mrs. Butson for the purchase of the Abbeylands, on the Butson estate, county Galway; and whether any limit was put to the time within which the purchase was to take place.

MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. WYNDHAM)

The agreement entered into by Mrs. Butson (as trustee for her son, the minor owner) was to take the lands of Great Abbey on the usual Court tenancy for seven years. At the same time she agreed to purchase the said lands for such sum, not exceeding £12,000, as the Land Judge should declare to be necessary to discharge the incumbrances on the lands. No limit of time was contained in the agreement for completion of the sale, and the actual price to be paid cannot be ascertained until the other portions of the estate have been sold.

MR. ROCHE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this agreement was entered into two years ago? Is it to go on for ever?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!