§ MR. CULLINANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the action adopted by many landlords of parceling out their untenanted lands, and disposing of their occupation interests, by public auction or private sale, to persons who are led to believe they can purchase such holdings under the Land Act of 1903; and whether, as the practice hampers the working of the said Act, by debarring the Estates Commissioners from purchasing those tracts of land for the purpose of distribution amongst the classes enumerated in Clause 2, and further provided in Clause 8, he will take steps to stop this system, secure the right of option to the Estates Commissioners to purchase such holdings, and save Clauses 2 and 8 from becoming inoperative.
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners inform me that they believe the practice in question has been resorted to in some cases, but that no specific case of the kind has so far been dealt with by them. If any such case should come before the Commissioners, they will have due regard to the provisions of the Act relative to parcels or newly created holdings.