§ Mr. DILLONasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has taken any steps to ascertain to what extent owners of grazing lands in the West of Ireland are willing to sell their lands for the purpose of relieving congestion; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the autumn of 1907 the Congested Districts Board sent out circular letters to 546 owners of grass lands in the counties of Roscommon, Galway, Sligo, and Mayo, asking them whether they were prepared to sell such grass lands to the Board, and requesting them, if so prepared, to name the price and to permit inspection of the lands by the Board's valuers. The circular letter stated that the Board's request was not intended to refer to demesne land appurtenant to residences or to lands which had been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners. The replies received by the Congested Districts Board were to the following effect: In 103 cases owners replied that they were not willing to sell, and in 244 cases no replies were received; that is to say in 347 cases, or nearly two-thirds of the total, owners either expressly or tacitly refused to sell. In 52 cases owners expressed their willingness to sell, and in 23 further cases they were willing to sell provided that their tenanted lands also were bought. In 74 cases the owners 1844 stated that the lands had been offered for sale or sold to the Estates Commissioners, and in six cases the lands had been sold or were being sold to tenants direct. In 35 cases it was stated that the lands sought to be acquired were either tenanted, demesne, or residential land, and in the remaining nine cases the owners' replies were of an indefinite character. The 546 circular letters related to grass lands of a total extent of 228,648 acres and a Poor Law valuation of £112,415, whereas in the four counties to which the circulars were issued the Poor Law valuation of the land required to bring all the small holdings up to a valuation of £2 per head (i.e., £10 per family) would amount to £228,395. The 52 cases in which owners were willing to sell related to 17,785 acres, the Poor Law valuation of which was £9,142. The 347 cases in which owners refused to sell related to 105,418 acres, with a Poor Law valuation of £52,548. Of the 52 cases in which owners expressed their willingness to sell, the Board have bought or agreed to buy in 11 cases, and the Board's offer was refused in three cases. In the remaining 38 cases the Board were obliged last year to suspend negotiations for purchase owing to their lack of funds for expenditure upon the improvement and creation of holdings. The present Bill provides the funds necessary for the purpose.
§ Mr. BELLOCArising out of that reply, as it is of some length, may I be justified in asking the Chief Secretary whether we may say roughly, from the figures, that out of those cases about one-tenth of the owners of the land agreed to sell, and rather over two-thirds refused to deal with the Government in one way or another?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThat may be right. I think it is right; but the best thing would be to circulate the answer so that hon. Members may do their own sums.
§ Mr. ASHLEYMay I ask whether the Congested Districts Board desires to take land for the purpose of relieving congestion in a case where the land is used for grazing cattle belonging to small holders in the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board desire to acquire all the untenanted land they possibly can for the relief of congestion.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIs it not far better for the locality to have this land with cattle turned on to it than that it should be cut up amongst two or three tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not think that is so.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHWill the right hon. Gentleman supply, some time, information with regard to the untenanted land in county Clare?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will endeavour to do.