§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners are now empowered to inquire into the free and bona fide character of provisional agreements lodged with them in the cases of sales of estates direct to them, in order to ascertain whether tenants were compelled by the pressure of arrears or the withdrawal of turbary and other rights to agree to excessive prices when signing such agreements.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe jurisdiction conferred on the Land Commission by Section 10 of the Land Act of 1885, enabling them to relieve tenants who have been coerced to enter into agreements by duress, is unaffected by these regulations, which do not deal with the matter at all.
§ MR. MURPHYWhat is meant by the reference to intimidation in the new regulations? Is it intimidation on the part of the landlord or of the tenant?
§ MR. WALTER LONGIt is any intimidation which seeks to bring about agreements which would not otherwise be made?
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDAnd who is to be the judge of it?
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Commissioners, I presume.