§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, seeing that in the accounts of sales under the Land Act of 1903 the bonus is recorded as well as the price, will he grant a Return, if moved for, of the estates in respect of which bonus has been paid, with the amounts, and have the information embodied in future periodical official returns; and, if not, will he state the reasons for withholding information regarding such payments.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Land Commission inform me that the preparation of the suggested return would be a very lengthy and difficult task, involving the examination of the records of each estate sold since the Act of 1903 came into operation, and that it would cause serious delay in the proper work of the Commissioners and their staff. In the circumstances, the Commissioners do not think it desirable to undertake the preparation of the return. They add, however, that the total amount which has been paid as bonus up to the 9th inst. is £1,471,000 in respect of about 1,400 estates.