§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been called to the case of Michael Lucey, Kilcranthan, county Cork, tenant on the Hunt estate; are they aware that the tenant was verbally informed that interest on the purchase money would be charged at the 938 rate of 3¼ percent.; that when signing the purchase agreement before a magistrate it was not read over to him, and he was never acquainted with the fact that the interest was 4 per cent., which he would not have agreed to had he known the contents of the agreement; and what steps the Commissioners are prepared to take in this case.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that in the purchase agreement signed by Michael Lucey, the rate of interest payable by him, pending the completion of the sale, is set out at 4 per cent. The Commissioners have no knowledge that the tenant was verbally informed that the rate of interest to be paid by him was 3¼ per cent. The agreement was signed in the presence of a magistrate, and it does not appear that the agreement was first read over and explained to Lucey. The necessity for such explanation does not seem to have arisen, seeing that Lucey is not illiterate. The Commissioners are prepared to consider any application in reference to the matter which the tenant may desire to make, duo notice being given to the landlord.