§ Mr. GINNELLasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware of the growing practice of the Estates Commissioners to leave competent agriculturists who are landless in the neighbourhood of a ranch bought by them long in suspense, and finally give them none of the land, but give parcels of it to persons from distant places where land of the same class is available; and whether, seeing that this practice is different from the intentions of Parliament as declared by him, he will arrange to have evicted tenants, occupants of uneconomic holdings, and suitable landless men in the neighbourhood of a purchased ranch provided with land from it before any outside application is entertained.
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the allotment of un-tenanted land acquired by them the Estates Commissioners have regard to the provisions of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Evicted Tenants Act.