§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether, on the sale of judicial tenancies under the Land Purchase (Ireland) Acts, the Estates Commissioners have any regard for the fact that in many cases the landlords have removed the timber and hedgerows, or shelters, which were growing on the lands at the time when the rents were fixed; is he aware that injustices are being perpetrated upon tenants in this respect; and does he propose to take any steps in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are not aware of any case such as is mentioned in the question.
§ Mr. KENNEDYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Estates Com-misioners have been furnished with several cases?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have communicated with them, and they tell me they are not aware of any cases in which the landlord removed the timber.
§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it not proposed in the Irish Land Bill to prevent the cutting of timber in cases of this kind, and have not the Irish Agricultural Department got powers in the matter at the present time?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is not the least doubt that this removal of timber— whether by landlords or tenant purchasers—is a very intolerable injury to Ireland, and the land legislation to which the hon. Member refers proposes to deal with it in a very drastic manner. I do not know whether it will prove to be successful. The Agricultural Department are aware of the evil complained of.
§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDHave not the Agricultural Department had powers given them to acquire timber for the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes; and I think that in one or two instances they have exercised that power.