HC Deb 14 May 1906 vol 157 cc195-7
MR. EDWARD BARRY (Cork County, S.)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will give, according to counties, the number of purchased tenants who have been proceeded against for non-payment of their annuities accruing due in May and November, 1905; how many civil bills, according to counties, at quarter sessions have been issued against tenants who purchased their farms, and in how many cases were decrees granted; whether any proceedings have been taken against purchasers for their instalments in the High Court of Justice in Ireland, and, if so, against how many, according to counties, and in how many cases have judgments been marked; whether the Crown Solicitors instructed to proceed against defaulting annuitants have been in the habit of charging the ordinary costs of a civil bill even in cases where settlements have been arrived at outside of court; and whether this is not contrary to the instructions issued to Crown Solicitors in such cases.

MR. CHERRY

I am informed by the Land Commission that the preparation of the Returns asked for would occupy much time in the Collection Department of the Land Commission and take the men from their ordinary duties of the collection, which at present arc very heavy, requiring overtime work. Many of the particulars for the Returns would have to be obtained from the county solicitor employed at quarter sessions. It may, however, be stated generally, that there are now on the Land Commission Books 92,728 payers of Land Purchase Annuities. Instructions were issued for proceedings in all the Civil Bill Courts in Ireland against 2,226 of the above number for the non-payment of the May 1905 instalment, and against 3,054 for that unpaid in the following November. For the instalments due at the same dates 94 and 90 writs respectively were issued in the High Court of Justice in Ireland. The total amount collectible to November and December, 1905, was £843,520. Of this amount all has been paid save £13,690. The costs recoverable by the solicitors employed by the Land Commission in the Civil Bill Courts are settled by the Statutory Rules and Schedules of Costs relating to proceedings in the Civil Bill Courts in Ireland. I have no information that any departure from these statutory charges has taken place.

MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

asked why the Land Commissioners refused to give hon. Members information when they asked for it, as he had done?

MR. CHERRY

I do not know.

MR. GINNELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if, in view of a reversal of the decision in King-Harman and Hayes, he will arrange that in every case of sale under the Land Act of 1903 sufficient information relating to the occupation, interest, and improvements of tenants will be available for the readjustment of the prices which such a reversal would render necessary; and that in even-case in which the entire cash has not yet been advanced a sufficient portion will be withheld provisionally to await the ultimate decision.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)

I cannot presume to forecast the results of a possible future decision declaring a different construction of the Land Act of 1903 from that delivered in the case referred to, but I apprehend that if such a decision were given the information possessed by the Estates Commissioners would be sufficient to enable them to deal with any cases that had not been already disposed of. In any event, however, I am advised that the Act leaves the disposition of the purchase money to the Land Commission, and that the Irish Government cannot control their action in the matter.