HC Deb 06 May 1909 vol 4 cc1180-1
Captain CRAIG

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state on what ground the Estates Commissioners have refused to allow Mr. Alexander Dickie, a tenant on the lands of Tangier, Boyle, on the King-Harman estate, to purchase his holding; if this has been done to meet the wishes of a local clique who have been opposed to Mr. Dickie as a Protestant farmer; if the Commissioners intend to deprive him of his holding under the Evicted Tenants Act, for whom it is intended to acquire these lands and if such person is a member of the local branch of the United Irish League; and why Mr. Dickie, amongst the Roman Catholic tenants, has been singled out for such treatment by the Estates Commissioners?

Mr. BIRRELL

The lands formerly held by Dickie are situate on the King-Harman estate, purchased by the Estates Commissioners under the Land Act of 1903, and in the exercise of their discretion the Commissioners decided to make no advance to Dickie. His tenancy, which was subject to a six months' notice to quit, has since been determined, and the Commissioners propose to vest the lands in trustees for the grazing of the cattle of small holders in the neighbourhood.

Captain CRAIG

Will he explain how it is that the discretion of the Commissioners is always directed against Protestant farmers?

Mr. BIRRELL

I do not admit for a single moment that that is so.

Mr. MEAGHER

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he would say if negotiations for the sale of the Persse estate, Killashulan, county Kilkenny, have been yet completed; what steps, if any, have been taken to restore Michael Dillon, who was evicted from this estate, to a holding thereon; and would he see that the untenanted land on this estate will be acquired for distribution amongst evicted tenants and others entitled to portions thereof without further delay?

Mr. BIRRELL

Proceedings have recently been instituted before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of this estate direct to the tenants and it will be dealt with in its order of priority. The Commissioners have decided not to take any action on Michael Dillon's application for reinstatement in his former holding, which is in the occupation of another tenant.