HC Deb 05 May 1909 vol 4 c1044
Mr. M'KEAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware, in connection with the sale and purchase of the Shirley estate, in the county of Monaghan, that the trustees of the property agreed that all the untenanted land on it was to be handed over to the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of redistribution, and that in November last the solicitors for the landlord represented to a deputation from the town tenants' committee of Carrickmacross that if the trustees got possession of the lands adjoining the town they would be prepared to divide the same amongst the town tenants; whether he is aware that, in violation of both these agreements, the trustees have advertised the said lands to be let under the 11-months' system; and whether, having regard to these circumstances, and the additional facts that a number of town tenants were evicted from these lands some 25 years ago, and that, in the case of certain holdings in the town of Carrickmacross, where changes of tenancy are taking place, the rent is being raised and onerous conditions as to improvements and in other respects are being imposed on the incoming tenants, he will recommend to the Estates Commissioners that they withhold their sanction to the sale, and refuse to declare an estate what is only a portion of an estate, until such time as the trustees of the property in question agree to fulfil their promises and carry out the agreements they made for the purpose of inducing all the parties interested on the tenants' side to agree to the sale?

The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)

The Estates Commissioners are informed by the solicitors having carriage of the sale that there was no agreement that all the untenanted land was to be handed over to the Commissioners for distribution, and that they did not represent that if the trustees got possession of the lands adjoining the town of Carrickmacross they would be prepared to divide them among the town tenants. No proceedings have been instituted for the sale of the town holdings, and the Commissioners have no information with regard to them. I have no power to make recommendations to the Commissioners as to the exercise of their discretion in declaring lands to be an estate.