§ JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary I to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an inspector of the Land Commission, named W. H. Kyle, has visited the tenants of the Fitzwilliam estate, county Wicklow, warning them that if they will not accept the landlord's terms of purchase they will lose their chance of buying their holdings; and, if so, will he take steps to prevent such persons from trying to force tenants to purchase their holdings at excessive prices.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the Estates Commissioners that they have received a report from the inspector named, stating that he gave no such warning as is mentioned in the first part of the Question, and neither felt nor showed any partiality. In the course of his inspection he suggested to the tenants who had not signed purchase agreements, that they should endeavour to come to 1285 terms with the vendor at a price which they could accept, in order that the sale of the estate might be completed without delay.
In reply to a further question the right hon. Gentleman said he believed that in some cases the Inspector recommended a reduction of the price.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORHe went a good deal further than that.