§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been called to the circumstances under which negotiations for the sale of the J. W. Leahy estate at Aghatubrid, Cahirciveen, have been carried on; and whether a sale of this estate will be sanctioned at twenty-three years' purchase on what are really first-term rents, in view, of the fact that the tenants were compelled to sign purchase agreements, through being threatened with a claim for so-called arrears.
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners inform me that seventeen agreements for purchase in respect of this estate have been lodged. In three of these cases in which judicial rents have been fixed since 1896, the average number of years' purchase is twenty-three. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the circumstances under which the negotiations for sale were carried on, nor have they any information that duress was used against the tenants. If any complaint to that effect should be made to them they would investigate the matter before sanctioning' advances.
§ MR. KILBRIDEWhat was the amount of arrears due by these tenants when they entered into the agreement?
§ MR. FLAVINIs it not the fact that they are paying twenty-three years' purchase in a congested district?
§ SIR EDWARD CARSONHas the right hon. Gentleman any power to interfere?