§ Mr. GINNELLasked the number of estates in the Land Judge's Court which the Estates Commissioners, after inspection, offered to purchase, and which the Land Judge refused to sell at their price; the amount in excess of value required by the court in each case; and the number of tenants thus denied the benefits of the Land Purchase Acts?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the Land Judge has refused their offer for four properties on which there were twenty-one tenants in all. The Commissioners are not aware at what prices the Land Judge may have sold these properties.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland at what date the Nugent estate at Multyfarnham, Westmeath, was 376 taken over by the Land Judge's Court for sale; whether he is aware that two tenants on this estate have been imprisoned for attempting to purchase their holdings at the value in the manner provided by Parliament, and that forty of their neighbours are threatened with imprisonment for sympathising with them; and whether he can see his way to have the compulsory powers of the Land Act of 1900 applied to the remnant of this estate still unsold?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe petition for sale of Sir Walter Nugent's estate was presented on the 3rd August, 1881. Two tenants on the estate were imprisoned for contempt of court for retaking forcible possession of their holdings after they had been evicted for non-payment of rent. It is not a fact that forty persons are threatened with imprisonment for sympathising with these prisoners. The Estates Commissioners do not propose to institute proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of these lands.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that all the tenants desire to purchase at a value to be ascertained by the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI will inquire into that.