HC Deb 06 October 1909 vol 11 cc1996-7
Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAM

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the Estates Commissioners have allowed the claim of Thomas Robinson as the representative of an evicted tenant, although his application, having been signed only on 31st October, 1908, was, therefore, beyond the limit of time specified in the Act of 1907, and have regarded him as fully qualified to receive an advance of £2,350 to purchase the farm of Kildrum, on the Kingston estate, from which Robert Fraser was evicted, the Commissioners will also take into consideration the claims of other evicted tenants or their representatives whose applications have not been made within the time prescribed in the Act?

Mr. BIRRELL

Applications received from evicted tenants or the representatives of evicted tenants subsequent to the date specified in the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, cannot be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners under that Act. Where, as in the case referred to, the applicant comes within the provisions of Section 2 (1) (d) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, his application will be considered in connection with sales under that Act.

Mr. DILLON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would undertake to ask the Estates Commissioners to reconsider this case, as according to information supplied to us this man is in no true sense an evicted tenant?

Mr. BIRRELL

Well, Sir, I am quite ready to ask any question you desire. I do not think the case of this gentleman could be considered properly that of an evicted tenant; but he had other grounds to justify his application.

Mr. KILBRIDE

Was not it only on grounds of his being an evicted tenant that he got this farm? May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will inquire whether Robinson applied as an evicted tenant off his own bat, or whether it was after questions in this House that he applied under the Evicted Tenants Act, and was put up to do so by an Estates Inspector?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have no objection to ask questions of the Estates Commissioners, but I decline altogether to consider myself a responsible person to pass under review the decision of those three gentlemen.