§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the name of Samuel Rainey, of Ballymore, Tandragee, county Armagh, is included in the Estates Commissioners' list of persons who are suitable for and should be provided with holdings under the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Bill.
I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in reference to the application of Samuel Rainey for reinstatement on his former holding at Tandragee, the person now in possession of the farm is willing to surrender it to the Estates Commissioners at the price which he gave for the holding at public auction; whether the Estates Commissioners are aware of that fact; and whether the terms asked are considerably below the selling value of land in the locality.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are prepared to consider Samuel Rainey's application in connection with the allotment of any untenanted land 702 which they may acquire, but they would prefer to facilitate his restoration to his former holding if the present occupier should be willing to accept reasonable terms. The amount which the present occupier has demanded is, in the Commissioners' opinion, extravagant, and according to their information it is largely in excess of the amount which he paid for the holding.
§ MR. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is prepared to sell the land at the price which he paid for it?
§ *MR. BIRRELLI will inquire into that. My information was to the contrary.