§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if the attention of the Treasury has been directed to the Report of the Estates Com missioners for the period ending 31st March, 1906, pages vii, viii, xiii, and xiv, according to which, owing to the abolition of official inspection for value, an owner now obtains from public funds, under the name of price £168 10s. and under the name of bonus £20 4s., being a total of £188 14s., for land for which under previous Purchase Acts, subject to official inspection, no more than £100 would have been paid; is the Treasury aware that, owing to the absence of freedom of contract between landlord and tenant in Ireland, similar waste of money under previous Purchase Acts was prevented only by official inspection; has the Treasury estimated how much more money will be required, in addition to that provided by the Act of.1903, for the transfer of ownership in 570 Irish land if waste is allowed to continue at the present rate; and can he state any other reason for the indifference of the Treasury to the prospect of a general repudiation of land annuities than the knowledge that Irish resources are primarily liable for default in the payments.
§ MR. MCKENNAI am informed that the increase of price of 68½ per cent, mentioned in the Estates Commissioners' Report was inclusive of bonus and not exclusive of it as stated by the hon. Member. It is the general policy of the Act which is involved in the Question, and I do not consider that this can conveniently be discussed by Question and Answer across the floor of the House. There is no ground for the insinuation in the last part of the Question.