§ MR. TULLY (Leitrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the five case of grass farms on the King-Harman Estate, in which the Estates Commissioners have agreed to consider favourably to purchase the tenants' interests through the vendor, he can state the amount proposed to be paid for the landlord's interest in each case, and the number of years purchase of the rent the amount represents; also the amount proposed to be paid for the tenant's interest in each case, and the number of years purchase of the rent the amount represents; have any of those tenants refused to sign their purchase agreements on the ground of excessive price; whether the Treasury have sanctioned or are prepared to sanction the arrangement for advancing money to the vendor in this case, or in the case of other properties, for purchasing the dual interest of landlord and tenant in grass farms for the purpose of division amongst the smaller occupiers; and, if so, if he can state the names of the cases.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) In the cases referred to in which the Commissioners are negotiating for the purchase of grass farms hitherto occupied by tenants, they propose to purchase the lands as untenanted, and do not therefore put a separate valuation on the interests of the landlord and the tenants respectively. The dealings with the tenants are carried on by the proposed vendor, and not by the Commissioners. The Commissioners propose to give for the lands, as untenanted, such prices as they consider the lands can be resold for, having due regard to the security. They have no information that these tenants have refused to sign agreements for purchase. There is no proposal that money shall be advanced to the landlord to enable him to purchase the tenants' interests.