HC Deb 07 March 1905 vol 142 cc587-8
MR. J. P. FARRELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, will he state the reasons which influenced the announcement that no further sales of towns in Ireland would be sanctioned under the Land Purchase Act of 1903; whether, in view of the pledges given during the passage of the Act, will the matter be now left an open one for the decision of the Estates Commissioners.

MR. ATKINSON

The reasons are that the entire purpose and object of the Land Purchase Code was to deal with the sale and purchase of holdings of land, and that it was never contemplated by Parliament to apply the funds provided by those Acts to the purchase of property in towns. And, further, that in practice it has been found impossible to make advances for the resale of small houses in the occupation of town tenants, as the security is quite inadequate. I am not aware that any pledges of the kind mentioned have been given. The Estates Commissioners can, of course, refer this point for decision in any particular case which may come before them.

MR. HAYDEN

inquired if the Commissioners had not made advances for the purchase of town holdings. Who was responsible for altering the intentions of the Commissioners in respect of the working of the Act?

MR. ATKINSON

said he was not aware of the fact stated by the hon. Member.

MR. HAYDEN

Was not the town of Boyle a case in point?

MR. ATKINSON'S reply was inaudible.