HC Deb 10 March 1904 vol 131 cc755-6
MR. JAMES O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have refused to sanction a sale of holdings to their occupiers, who proposed to buy within the zones, on the ground that the price agreed upon was excessive; and, if so, will he say why this refusal was made.

MR. WYNDHAM

No, Sir; there is obviously no foundation for the suggestion m the Question.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR

I may inform the right hon. Gentleman that the reason I put the Question was that a statement was made in a Dublin paper to the effect that the Estates Commissioners would take care that no tenant would be allowed by them to purchase his holding at a usurious price even though he was buying within the zones. That statement was calculated to mislead the tenants, the Commissioners having no power to withhold their sanction from sales made within, the zone limits.