§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary if he can state what action the Estates Commissioners have taken with regard to the lands known as Clonrellick, being portion of the Little estate, near Moate, county Westmeath; and whether they have recognised as tenants, and intend to make advances under the Land Purchase Acts to, the nominal occupiers of those lands whose tenancies were created, as was admitted in Mr. Justice Wright's Court, solely for the purpose of obtaining such advances, or if, having investigated all the facts connected with this case, the Estates Commissioners have decided that the lands in question should not be declared an estate under the meaning of the Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have had inquiries made by one of their inspectors in reference to the purchase agreements signed by the proposed purchasers, and the nature of their tenancies. No advances have been sanctioned in these cases. Pending, however, the result of certain proceedings in another estate, instituted in the High Court in 1907 reference to the practice of the Commissioners in declaring or refusing to declare lands to be an estate, the Commissioners do not consider it desirable to make any statement as regards the case referred to in the question.
§ Sir WALTER NUGENTWill not the compulsory clauses of the Land Acts be made applicable to cases such as this outside the Congested Districts?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will consider that question.