§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have had communicated to them a resolution, passed on 28th November last, by tenants of Brackloonbeg, on the Blake Estate, Benmore, county Galway, refusing to pay any rent until such times as the Board would let them know the terms of sale for their agricultural holdings; and what action was taken by the Board in consequence of such resolution.
MR. BRYCEThe resolution referred to was received by the Congested Districts Board, who informed the tenants' solicitor that the Board were prepared to enlarge the small holdings on the estate in question as soon as the estate became legally vested in them, but that they had no power to divide and sell the lands 1141 purchased until the estate should be so vested in them. The Board added that if the tenants did not pay their rents forthwith, legal proceedings would be instituted against them; and, accordingly, proceedings are now being taken against the defaulters for the payment of one year's rent.