§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the suggestion of Mr. Justice Ross in the Land Judge's Court on 29th July that, in cases where intimidation was being used against graziers and the owners of grazing lands, the Estates Commissioners should refuse to advance public money to purchase these lands; and whether, seeing that the measures taken by the executive to suppress this form of intimidation have failed, he will consider the desirability of instructing the Estates Commissioners in accordance with the suggestion of Mr. Justice Ross.
§ MR. CHERRYI have seen a newspaper report of the learned Judge's
† See (4) Debates, clxxii., 1372.1550 remarks to the effect mentioned in the Question. In Answer to the concluding part of the Question, my right hon. friend desires me to refer to the full reply which he gave on 14th May to the Question put by the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division. †
§ MR. MOOREIs a pronouncement like this by a Judge of the High Court to have no effect on the opinion of the Chief Secretary?
§ MR. CHERRYThe Chief Secretary formed his opinion before the pronouncement by the Judge. The Government decided not to refuse to allow the landlord in these cases the right to sell to the Commissioners, but in cases where intimidation has been exercised by individuals steps will be taken to prevent them getting the land.