HC Deb 22 November 1906 vol 165 cc976-8
MR. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord † See (4) Debates, clvi., 237. Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that an application by the tenant purchasers of the M'Farlane property situate at Mullaghearn, County Tyrone, was made to the Estates Commissioners, urging them to buy the untenanted portion of the estate for enlargement purposes, in order to give relief to the several tenants whose holdings are too small to afford a livelihood to the occupiers, will he say what reply was given to the application, and if any steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to take over the untenanted land with the view of distributing it among the purchasers of uneconomic farms; and further, will he urge on the Estates Commissioners the desirability of taking immediate steps to get possession of that part of the estate available for enlarging or otherwise enhancing the value of the small holdings.

MR. MURNAGHAN

TO ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenant purchasers of the M'Farlane property at Mullaghearn, county Tyrone, are in a state of anxiety lest the sporting rights be purchased over their heads to the detriment of their holdings; is he aware that the Estates Commissioners have been asked to purchase these rights on behalf of the tenants in order to safeguard the crops against destruction by game and injury to fences by sportsmen; will he state what steps have been taken in this direction; and, seeing that the sporting rights are advertised for sale on the 30th instant before the Master of the Bolls, will he point out to the Estates Commissioners the desirability of being represented at the sale to secure for the tenants the undisturbed enjoyment of their holdings, the cost of which the tenants are willing to have added to the purchase price.

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they cannot trace the receipt of any application from the tenants in respect of either the untenanted lands or the sporting rights on the McFarlane Estate. It would appear from the second Question that the estate is in the Land Judge's Court. The Commissioners have not issued any request under Section 7 with a view to acquiring the property, and if, as would appear from the Question, the sporting rights are about to be sold by auction as a separate property, the Commissioners would have no legal power to purchase property of this nature.