§ MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the Butson Estate, county Galway, which is about to be sold in the Land Judge's Court, there is a large tract of grazing land subject only to a temporary Court lease, while the general body of the tenants have only small impoverished holdings, many of which are constantly inundated by floods; whether he will take steps for the enlargement of the cottier tenancies, and will the provisions of the Purchase Act which prevent advances of public money to new tenants having no real connection with the estate be strictly enforced so as to prevent the rich grass lands, which it is the policy of the Act to redistribute amongst the smaller tenants, being sold to outsiders.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe grazing farm referred to was let before the passing of
†See page 732.987 the Act of 1903, and a collateral agreement for purchase was entered into by the Court with the lessee. The Land Judge cannot disturb this agreement; but there are other grazing lands on the estate which it is proposed to distribute among the tenants should the negotiations at present in progress be successful.
§ MR. ROCHEWill the right hon. Gentleman direct the Estates Com- I missioners to purchase this estate in view of the fact that the tenants are prepared to pay £1,000 more than is provided under the agreement.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have no knowledge of the details.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Judge made a statement that—
§ MR. WYNDHAMNo, but I understand that the Judge sanctioned the collateral agreement.