§ MR. McHUGH (Sligo, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the reinstatement of evicted tenants, in cases in which planters are willing to surrender, is hampered by reason of the fact that where planters have become judicial tenants of evicted farms the Estates Commissioners cannot compensate planters or make grants to evicted tenants; and what does he propose to do in order to render the Evicted Tenants Act operative in such cases.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that according to their view of the powers given by Section 12 of the Act of 1903 they can compensate occupiers of evicted holdings for their interest on surrendering the holdings, and can make grants to evicted tenants on reinstatement if the estate is being sold through them under the Act of 1903. In the Commissioners opinion these powers apply whether the occupiers are judicial or non-judicial tenants. The compensation asked for by occupiers of evicted holdings is, however, usually so high as to render this procedure impracticable, having regard to the limited amount of the reserve fund. The hon. Member is, of course, aware that in suitable cases in which reinstatement in the evicted holdings cannot be effected the Commissioners provide other holdings for the evicted tenants whenever that course is possible.