HC Deb 04 May 1905 vol 145 cc930-1
MR. DILLON

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the promises in reference to the reinstatement of evicted 'tenants in Ireland, made by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Dover during the debate on the Land Act of 1903, have not been redeemed, only 137 evicted tenants having been restored up to December 31st, 1901, out of 4,275 who applied; whether the Irish Government propose to take any, and, if so, what steps to expedite the work of restoration.

MR. WALTER LONG

Section 2 provides that, on the sale of an estate, advances maybe made for the purchase of parcels of land for the purpose, amongst others, of providing farms for evicted tenants. My right hon. friend the Member for Dover stated that the reinstatement of evicted tenants was ancillary to the sale of estates. This I am advised is the correct view; and as sales proceed the matter will be dealt with. It is not intended to introduce legislation.

MR. DILLON

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the right hon. Member for Dover gave a distinct pledge that the work of reinstatement would be carried on quite independently?

MR. WALTER LONG

I have examined very carefully the various statements made by my right hon. friend, and I find that the statement I make h accurate—namely, that the primary object of the Act of 1903 is the transfer of land from the owner to the occupier, but that, ancillary to that, every effort would be made to reinstate the evicted tenants.

MR. DILLON

Has the right hon. I Gentleman's attention been drawn to a letter from the Estates Commissioners to himself undertaking to institute proceedings in certain districts for the reinstatement of evicted tenants without regard to the sale of estates?

MR. WALTER LONG

I am not quite sure I have seen that letter. But I repeat it cannot be doubted that the question of the reinstatement of evicted tenants was to be regarded as ancillary to the primary object of the Bill—the transfer of land from the owner to the occupier.