§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Department of Agriculture have purchased the mansion of Ballyhaise and 800 acres of demesne ornamental grounds and tillage land in the county of Cavan as an experiment; what is the purchase money; and what is the purpose of this experiment.
§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the approval of the Agricultural Board was obtained to the purchase of Ballyhaise mansion and demesne; if this property belonged to Mr. Humphreys; if the Board were informed before the transaction that Mr. Humphreys was a nephew by marriage of one of their number; if the Vice-President pressed the purchase; and how the purchase price between Mr. Humphreys and the Department was ascertained.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Department, with the approval of the Agricultural Board, have purchased the 94 house and demesne for the sum of £19,000. The property will be utilised as a centre for the breeding of live stock in connection with the Department's schemes, and for the instruction of young men in practical agriculture. The Board were aware that the property belonged to Mr. Humphreys. One of the members of the Board was indirectly interested in it, but he retired from the Board Room when the question of its acquisition was considered. The Vice-President did not press the purchase in the manner suggested. The purchase price was based on an independent valuation of the property.