§ MR. GORDON (Londonderry, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the Mercers estate, in county Londonderry, agreed so far back as November, 1904, to purchase their holdings under the Land Act of 1903; that the Land Commission has had the estate inspected and surveyed a considerable time ago; whether he can state what is the cause of delay in having the sale carried out; and whether, if it is due to want of funds or insufficiency of staff, he will endeavour to have further funds provided and a sufficient staff employed.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The purchase agreements in this case were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in December, 1904, and January, 1905. The delay in making the inspection appears to be due to the inaccuracy of the maps lodged, necessitating their return for Amendment. The inspection will shortly take place.