§ MR. SLOANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Collen, who purchased by auction an evicted holding on the Manchester estate, on March 25th, 1904, communicated to the Estates Commissioners his willingness to surrender the holding with the view of having the evicted tenant reinstated; and whether, in view of the fact that eighteen months have elapsed since the Commissioners promised to send their inspector to examine the farm, and that they have not yet done so, he can explain the cause of such delay.
* MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners have been informed by Mr. Collen that he is willing that Samuel Bainey, the evicted tenant referred to, should be restored. Proceedings for the sale of the estate upon which the holding is situate are before the Commissioners, but the turn of the estate for inspection has not yet come. When the estate is being inspected, the Commissioners will have the holding inspected and reported on.
§ MR. SLOANDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say the time has not come for inspecting this particular estate?
* MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners are tremendously overworked, and they are obliged to take the estates in a certain order; if they departed from that it would be unfair to the other applicants. They will deal with this case directly they can.