§ MR. MURPHYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the effect of the new regulation issued to the Estates Commissioners directing them to give consideration to the applications of evicted tenants* who lost their holdings in consequence of some general rent dispute will have the effect of preventing the Commissioners from doing anything in the interest of tenants who were evicted from estates in consequence of a particular rent dispute in their own cases; or 565 whether he will explain the effect of this regulation on the action of the Commissioners in regard to evicted tenants.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe regulation, which was designed to embody the present practice, should be read in connection with Section 2 of the Act. It was not intended to restrict, and does not restrict, the right conferred by that section on any evicted tenant, but merely directs, in effect, that in disposing of untenanted lands for the benefit of evicted tenants preference should, consistently with that section, be given to cases in which the tenants lost their holdings owing to a general rent dispute, that is to say, the Plan of Campaign cases commonly so called. This, I fancied, was desired by all parties.
§ MR. MURPHYWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Estates Commissioners to do something for the evicted tenants in the South of Ireland?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI believe the Answer given embodies the view generally held at the time the matter was debated, and I am not prepared to go beyond that.
§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if it is pointed out to the Estates Commissioners that landlords of certain estates which have not been offered for sale under the provisions of the Land Act, 1903, have untenanted lands on their own hands suitable for the reinstatement of tenants whose former holdings have been let, or for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings, will the Estates Commissioners approach such landlords with the view of purchasing such lands for the purpose of providing evicted tenants with suitable farms, or enlarging uneconomic holdings.
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo, Sir; the Estates Commissioners do not open negotiations with landlords who have not expressed a desire to sell.
In reply to a further Question the right hon. Gentleman said there were an enormous number of cases already before the 566 Commissioners, and he did not think there was any necessity to go out of the way to invite further applications.