§ MR. O'SHEEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many letters of application to tenant purchasers under the Irish Land Act, 1903, for the collection of interest on, or instalments of annuities, of their purchase money have been issued up to date by the solicitor of the Irish Land Commission; how many civil bills and writs of summons have been issued in respect of such interest and instalments; and whether the Estates Commissioners will decline to sanction advances for the purchase of holdings in cases in which the tenants submit to them evidence of the vendors having shortly prior to the signature of the purchase agreements brought pressure to bear on the tenants to compel them to pay arrears of rent, other than the current year's rent, which the vendors 105 had not sought to collect by means of legal proceedings until the negotiations for a sale to their tenants had begun.
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners are unable to reply to the first inquiry, as no record of the number of circulars issued is kept. On the 1st May, 1905, which is the last gale day in respect of which legal proceedings have been taken, there were about 53,000 payers of interest under the Act of 1896, and of interest or rent under the Act of 1903, all of whom paid on application with the exception of 1,155, against whom writs or civil bills were issued. Eight hundred and fifty of these paid before the cases came before the different courts. Ninety-one cases are still outstanding in respect of which the Sheriffs have not yet made returns. Similarly, on the 1st June, 1905, being the last gale day in respect of which legal proceedings for annuities have been taken, the number of payers was 12,901, all of whom paid on application with the exception of ninety-three, against whom writs or civil bills were issued. Sixty-six of these paid before the cases came up for hearing. Eleven cases are still outstanding. The Estates Commissioners will consider any evidence which comes before them of duress brought to bear on tenants to compel them to sign purchase agreements, and will take such action as they may consider just and within the powers vested in them by law.