§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked if the right hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to the fact that tenant purchasers in Ireland had to lodge their receivable orders with the amount of their rent when paying the same into a bank, but that the bank gave the payer no receipt; and, in view of the fact that the official receipt was often delayed for months and the consequent inconvenience and confusion to the tenant, and for the convenience of the bank officials who received this Land Commission money, would he consider the advisability of having the receivable orders issued in duplicate, so that the tenant could have the bank receipt stamped on the duplicate, or would he consider the matter generally, with a view to giving effect to the substance of the question in some effective way?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Land Commission understand that a tenant purchaser who pays his instalments through a local bank can always obtain from the bank an acknowledgment of his payment which he can hold pending the return of his receivable order duly receipted by the Commission. Owing to the enormous number of payments which have to be dealt with on each gale day a period of from ten days to a fortnight often elapses before the receipts can issue The issue of duplicate receivable orders would, in the opinion of the Land Commission, tend to confusion and increase the risk of error.
§ Mr. KENNEDYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is an exacting obligation on the banks to provide this receipt?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know that there is an obligation. I understand it is the fact that the banks in Ireland when such 598 a lodgment is made give such a receipt without demur.
§ Mr. KENNEDYIf I can satisfy the right hon. Gentleman that such is not the fact, will he have the matter further investigated?
§ Mr. BIRRELLCertainly, I will.