§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in reference to the Barry estate, Umeraboy, Knocknagree, county Cork, whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that the landlord offered to sell to the tenants at twenty-one and twenty-four years purchase of first and second term rents respectively, which offer they declined, whereupon the landlord a short time subsequently served the tenants which processes and writs of ejectment, and they offered to purchase at a more reasonable price; is he aware that in June, 1906, the then inspector for the Commissioners in that district visited the estate at the instance of the landlord and after inspection 45 raised the proposed purchase terms on five of the tenants considerably above the landlord's price; and, if so, what explanation the Commissioners have to offer to the action of their inspector in thus increasing the difficulty of land purchase on this estate.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners arc aware that in this case the landlord proposed to sell on terms which the tenants refused to accept. With the consent of the owner, the Commissioners had the property inspected with a view to making an offer to purchase it, provided that the tenants should agree to repurchase at their estimated price. The price as estimated by the Commissioners, including a year's arrear of rent, were in the majority of cases lower than those at which the owner offered to sell, but in some cases were slightly higher. The tenants have so far refused to purchase at the prices which the Commissioners consider fair, but negotiations are still proceeding.