§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the Congested Districts Board paid eighteen years' purchase of first term rents for lands bought in 1906, compared with fifteen years' purchase in 1902, and twenty-one and a quarter years' purchase of second term rent in 1906,compared with eighteen and three-quarter years' purchase in 1902, they can now explain what circumstances have arisen to justify the increase of three years' purchase and of two and a half years' respectively.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.The Congested Districts Board purchased land in 1906, as in other years since the passing of the Irish Land Act of 1903, at the lowest price at which they could obtain it. The price of land has risen since 1903.
§ MR. FLYNNArising out of that, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any increase in the agricultural value of the land to justify paying this enhanced price?
§ MR. BRYCEThe causes which affect the price of land are very numerous, and this increase I suggest is largely due to causes other than that suggested by the hon. Member.