HC Deb 19 July 1909 vol 8 c28
Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAM

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the apprehension existing in Glenville, county Cork, respecting the way in which the division of untenanted lands on the Kinahan estate may be carried out, in consequence of the action of an inspector in entertaining applications for allotments made by farmers and their sons who live several miles away and are in independent circumstances, while there are evicted tenants and their representatives, poor tenants with uneconomic holdings, on the estate, small cottiers, and many other deserving applicants possessing prior claims, which should be provided for before other applications are considered; if he will represent to the Commissioners the necessity for a careful examination and revision of the list, when submitted by the inspector, before giving their approval to the allocation of these lands; also if he can state what price has been paid, or agreed to be paid, for the lands in question; whether the holdings of tenants on the estate, who have signed provisional agreements to purchase, will be inspected for value; and will these tenants be provided with turbary on the mountain as an adjunct to their holdings?

Mr. BIRRELL

This estate is being sold to the Estates Commissioners under section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. In allotting the untenanted lands, when acquired, the Commissioners will consider all applications made to them. They do not think it desirable at this stage of the proceedings to state the estimated price of these lands. The tenanted holdings on the estate have been inspected, and the question of turbary will receive due consideration.

Mr. DENIS KILBRIDE

What is meant by saying that "the Commissioners will take all the circumstances into consideration"? Does that mean that the three Estates Commissioners will make personal inquiry, or whether they will accept the report of the inspector who makes the inquiry?

Mr. BIRRELL

It means that the report of the inspector will be duly considered by the Estates Commissioners.