HC Deb 02 September 1909 vol 10 cc553-5
Mr. REDDY

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. James Wallace, of Cangort Park, King's County, has applied to the Estates Commissioners for an advance of £4,525 to purchase his holding on the Atkinson estate; how many acres of this holding are evicted land formerly in the occupation of a man named Devane; whether Devane has been provided with a holding; can he say what action the Estates Commissioners propose to take with regard to the evicted tenant's holding now in the possession of Wallace; and whether he is aware that Wallace holds large estates in fee in county Tipperary and King's County.

Mr. CHERRY

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say what action they may take in reference to Mr. Wallace's application, as the estate cannot be dealt with for some time. The Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Mr. William Devane, who stated that he was evicted in 1896 from 17 acres of Cangort Park. The Commissioners offered to provide him with another holding, but he refused the offer. I have no information as to whether Mr. Wallace holds any lands in fee.

Mr. REDDY

Will the Government hold a public inquiry into this matter?

Mr. CHERRY

I am afraid there is no power to do that, but if any information is forthcoming to show that any person has obtained advances improperly the matter will be investigated.

Mr. MacNEILL

Are there not official returns showing the lands held in fee?

Mr. CHERRY

There are certain Poor Law returns, but it would be very difficult to go through them in order to get this information and to identify particular persons?

Mr. J. C. LARDNER

But the information can be obtained by making an inspection of the register kept under the Registration of Titles Act?

Mr. CHERRY

The same difficulty as to identifying a particular person would arise there.

Mr. LARDNER

Cannot the Land Commission ascertain if a James Wallace is creating a mortgage for an amount exceeding ten times the annuity?

Mr. CHERRY

The Land Commission has a great deal of work to do, and cannot give up the whole of their time to hunting up particulars of this nature.