§ MR. MURPHYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the legal proceedings taken on the estate of Mr. Collis Sandes at Brosna, county Kerry, against tenants who refused to agree to purchase on terms which they considered excessive; and, if so, whether, seeing that the landlord has publicly stated his readiness to sell, and the tenants to purchase, that the sale is stopped owing to the terms mentioned by the landlord, and that the estate is scheduled as a congested district, the Congested Districts Board, or the Estates Commissioners, are in a position to take any steps to carry out a settlement on reasonable terms on the estate.
§ MR. ATKINSONI have no information that the facts are as stated in the first part of the Question, but I would observe that the Land Act of 1903 does not interfere with, and was not intended to interfere with, any rights possessed by either landlords or tenants in respect of the payment of rent. With regard to the remainder of the Question, I understand that negotiations are in progress between the Congested Districts Board and the tenants, and until these have been concluded I cannot make any further statement in the matter.
§ MR. MURPHYWill the Congested Districts Board take steps to prevent seizures while negotiations are proceeding?
§ MR. ATKINSONI require notice of that. I should wish to know the nature of the proceedings.