§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners forwarded to the new agent of the J. W. Leahy estate at Aghatubrid, in November, 1907, an 1710 intimation of the price they were prepared to advance in purchase of the estate and a copy of the agreement entered into between the late owner and the tenants, in which the owner agreed to wipe out all arrears; and, in view of the fact that processes have now been issued for the recovery of arrears due to the 29th September, 1906, being a date precedent to the agreement entered into between the late owner and the tenants, he will now state what steps the Commissioners will take to protect the tenants, who have fulfilled their side of the agreement, from being processed for arrears agreed to be wiped out.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his Question on this subject on the 25th instant. The Estates Commissioners have now informed the solicitor to the new owner that unless they receive within fourteen days anintimation that he is prepared to continue proceedings for sale at the estimated price the case will be dismissed.