HC Deb 08 February 1904 vol 129 cc594-5
MR. J. P. FARRELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that application is being made to Mr. Justice Ross to admit as tenants on the Cusack Estate for the purpose of sale a number of large farmers and planters to the exclusion of the evicted tenants or their representatives residing in the neighbourhood of this estate; and whether he is prepared to offer any suggestion to the Estate Commissioners to purchase this estate, with a view to re-sale to the former tenants or their descendants.

MR. WYNDHAM

The application referred to comes on before Judge Ross to-day. The procedure in respect of estates for the sale of which an absolute order has been made is, so far as the Estate Commissioners are concerned, laid down in Section 7.

MR. J. P. FARRELL

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any action such as he took last year?

MR. WYNDHAM

I must refer the hon. Member to the section of the Act which shows that the Estates Commissioners can only take action on information being laid.

MR. J. P. FARRELL

But cannot the right hon. Gentleman intervene. It would be much more effective.

MR. WYNDHAM

I cannot undertake to do the work of the Judges or of the Estate Commissioners.