§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of 588 Ireland whether he is aware that the majority of the tenants on the Marsham estate, Ballinaghera, county Leitrim, were about to be evicted in March, 1908, for non-payment of exorbitant rents when a settlement was arrived at and the estate sold to the tenants, subject to the approval of the Estates Commissioners; whether the agent on behalf of the landlord has since refused to comply with the terms of the sale as agreed upon and instituted legal proceedings against the tenants; and whether there would be an inquiry into the facts of this case before police are drafted into the district to assist in evicting these tenants and collecting rents at the expense of the ratepayers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have no official information as to the settlement referred to, but they understand that it was agreed that they should be allowed to inspect the property with a view to making an offer which it would be open to the tenants and the owner to accept or refuse. The agent communicated with the Commissioners, who expressed their readiness to make the inspection if furnished with the necessary maps and schedules. These have not been furnished, nor have proceedings been instituted for sale to the Commissioners. The owner is, however selling three separate estates direct to the tenants, and he has a fourth estate in the county in respect of which he has not yet arranged terms of sale. Any tenants who have not signed purchase agreements are still liable for rent, and the Commissioners have no power to interfere with any legal proceedings which the owner may take for its collection.