§ Mr. DORISasked whether the Marquess of Sligo intimated to the Congested Districts Board his willingness to sell his West Mayo estate to the Board under the Land Act of 1909, and that with a view to a sale he was having the necessary maps, etc., prepared for lodgment with the Board; what was the date of such intimation; have the maps and papers been lodged accordingly, or has any information been received from the landlord as to when they may be lodged; and can he state when the Board hope to be able to complete the purchase of this congested estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Marquis of Sligo intimated on 16th August, 1910, his willingness to sell his estate in county Mayo to the Congested Districts Board. The maps and other documents required have not been lodged, but the Board were informed in January last by the agent that considerable progress had been made in their preparation. The estate is a very large one, and the survey and preparation of maps and other documents must necessarily take some time. Negotiations for purchase cannot be opened pending the receipt by the Board of the maps and other documents.
§ Mr. MEAGHERasked if the O'Brien Bradshaw and Amos representatives, Healy Estate, Johnstown and Folkscourt, county Kilkenny, is about being vested in the tenants; is he aware of the congestion on this estate, by reason of which a number of uneconomic landholders were debarred of the right of purchase because of inadequate security for the money to be advanced; is he aware that legal proceedings have been taken and judgment granted for possession of the holdings of some of those tenants which, if executed, will create discontent in this district; is he aware that upwards of 600 acres of untenanted land is in the occupation of the owners, let on the eleven months' system; and will he impress on the Estates Commissioners the desirability of acquiring this land for distribution amongst those uneconomic landholders and others entitled to portions thereof?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member pro sumably refers to the estate of Louisa Amos and another, in resepct of which the owners have instituted proceedings for direct sale to their tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and the Estates Commissioners are not therefore in a position to reply to the other matters referred to by the hon. Member, but when the estate is being inspected due inquiry will be made. The Commissioners have no information as to any legal proceedings which the owners may have instituted for the recovery of rent due by tenants who have not signed purchase agreements, nor have they any power to interfere with the owners' rights in this respect.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any further progress has been made by the Estates Commissioners as regards the sale of the John Edward Thompson Estate, at Clonfin, North Longford, and particularly 1455 as regards the purchase by the Commissioners of the untenanted lands on this estate, comprising some 400 acres of upland and bog, for division amongst the tenants and other suitable persons living on uneconomic holdings in the vicinity?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is one of those to be dealt with during the present year. It has not yet been inspected, but the Commissioners hope to have the inspection carried out at an early date.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any offer has yet been made by the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of the lands known as Prospect Farm, for the sale of which a petition has been presented by tenants residing on uneconomic holdings in the district; and, if not, whether he will request the Commissioners to communicate with Mr. R. H. Bond, Fany Hall, county Westmeath, on the subject immediately?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of the 9th February last on this subject. The Estates Commissioners have not been furnished with the further particulars asked for.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any progress has recently been made towards the purchase by the Estates Commissioners of the lands of Coolcraff, barony of Granard, North Longford, which lands were more than a year ago offered for sale to the Commissioners by the landlord, Mr. James W. Bond; and what has been the result of these negotiations so far?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have had a preliminary inspection made of these lands with the view of enabling them to estimate the price which they could offer for them. Their inspector's report has been received and will be considered by the Commissioners.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked whether the Corkhill and Corkamore grazing ranches, situated at Templeboy, county Sligo, on the estate of Sir Malby Croftyn, are in course of being acquired by the Estates Commissioners or by the Congested Districts Board; and whether numerous appeals have been made to the Commissioners and the Board by tenants of uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood to have these ranches purchased and distributed for the relief of congestion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe tenanted land on this estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and when, the property is being dealt with in order of priority the Estates Commissioners will consider the acquisition of the untenanted land referred to and the memorials which, have been received on the subject. The estate is not the subject of proceedings before the Congested Districts Board.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked whether the Local Government Board for Ireland, in the case of old age pension appeals, obtain other valuations than those supplied by the pension officer, and,. if so, from whom?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board are furnished by the pension officer with a list of the stock and crops obtained from the claimant and with his estimate of the claimant's total means. The claimant, moreover, is given an opportunity of stating his own estimate of means. The Board then put their own valuation on the several sources of income in detail, taking into consideration the situation and quality of the lands, and if the necessity arises also making supplemental inquiries through one of their inspectors.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of an inspection having taken place in connection with the Blake Foster Estate, Kinvarra; was it offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; has any offer been made to the trustees for its purchase; and how does the estate stand at the present time?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate was offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board and has been inspected by their valuers, but the report of the valuers is not yet completed. The Board will consider the question of making an offer as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the number of uneconomic holdings to be found in the neighbourhood of Kinvarra, county Gal-way; whether, in order to assist in the relief of this congestion, Mr. Brady Murray, B.A., Moydore House, Kinvarra, offered some untenanted land to the Congested Districts Board; what was the extent or acreage of the untenanted land 1457 offered by Mr. Murray; and when is it proposed to take up this land and prepare a scheme for its allotment?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are unable to state the number of uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood of Kinvarra, county Galway. Mr. Brady Murray has offered 339 acres of untenanted land in Gort Union to the Board, and a decision will be come to regarding purchase as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state if any correspondence has taken place between Miss M. L. Forster., Port House, Ruan, county Clare, and the Congested Districts Board in respect to the sale of her estate situated in Clare and Galway; is he aware of the extent of territory in possession of a gentleman named Mr. Melett on this estate; and, having regard to the state of congestion which exists in the vicinity of this grazing farm of Norman Grove, will he bring the matter under the notice of the Congested Districts Board so that they may take steps, if they have not already done so, to acquire this property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in communication with Miss M. L. Forster regarding the purchase of her estate in county Galway, comprising the farm of Norman Grove and four or five small tenancies adjoining, but an offer has not been made for the property, as the necessary documents have not yet been lodged. The Board have no knowledge of the letting to Mr. Melett, or of any estate of Miss Forster's in county Clare.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he would state what progress the Congested Districts Board have made in reference to the purchase of the Parkes estate, Glencar, county Leitrim; whether a title claim lodged by Mrs. Haines would be considered; and whether, having regard to the number of evicted tenants and uneconomic holders in the district, and to the fact that the occupier of the waste lands on the estate has expressed his willingness to sell, the Board would take immediate action to relieve congestion in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe maps and documents necessary to enable the Congested Districts Board to have an inspection of this estate have been lodged, and an inspection of the lands will be made and a decision come to regarding purchase as soon 1458 as practicable. The Board require the vendors to prove title before completing the purchase of estates.
§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the lands, held by Mr. Charles O'Rourke on the estate of Sir Henry Grattan Bellew, county Galway, is to be dealt with by the Congested Districts Board, or have the Board entered into negotiations for the purchase of the said lands?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are in negotiation for the purchase of the lands referred to.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether negotiations are in progress for the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of the following estates in the county Sligo—namely, the Percival property, situate in the baronies of Corran and Leyny union, of Tubbercurry, and Mrs. Ellen O'Conor's estate, of Everlawn, Kilturra Electoral Division, same union; and, if so, can he state when a settlement is likely to be effected?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the agent for the Percival Estate was written to, stating that if he desired to open negotiations for the sale of the estate through the Board he should lodge the necessary maps and documents. This has not yet been done. The necessary maps and documents in connection with Mrs. Ellen O'Conor's. estate have been lodged, and the estate will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners have yet provided widow Sammon, of Carrow Kennedy, Westport, county Mayo, with a holding in lieu of the one from which she was evicted by the Marquess of Sligo; and, if not, when they hope to be able to do so?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMrs. Sammon's name has been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Estates Commissioners, but they have not yet been able to provide her with a holding. They have furnished the Congested Districts Board with particulars of her case so that the Board may, if a suitable opportunity arises, offer the Commissioners lands on which they could provide Mrs. Sammon with a holding. The Congested Districts Board have not pur- 1459 chased the Marquess of Sligo's estate, and have not, therefore, made inquiry into this case.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he could give the names of landlords in Mayo county who have agreed to sell their estates to the Congested Districts Board under the Land Act of 1909, and the names of those who have refused to do so or have not replied to requests addressed to them by the Board; and could he state when the Board intend to put the compulsory purchase clause of the Act into operation in the cases of Mayo landlords who have refused to sell?
§ Mr. BIRRELL106 landlords in county Mayo have expressed their willingness to negotiate for the sale of their estates through the Congested Districts Board under the Act of 1909. Nine landlords stated that they were not willing to sell, and in ninety-one cases no replies were received, or the replies were indefinite. The question of applying the compulsory clauses of the Land Act, 1909, to the landlords who have refused to sell, has not been considered by the Board, having regard to the large number of estates which have been offered to the Board in the county Mayo.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state whether, pending the sale of congested estates in West Mayo, the Congested Districts Board will extend to the tenants of uneconomic holdings thereon the advantages afforded to occupiers of holdings on estates that have been purchased by the Board, enabling them to procure seeds and agricultural appliances at reduced prices, and to have instructions and demonstrations by the Board's officials?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe powers and duties of the Congested Districts Board relating to agricultural instruction were transferred to the Department of Agriculture by the Irish Land Act, 1909. In addition to the agricultural instructors employed under the ordinary schemes in county Mayo the Department have specially appointed for the congested districts of West Mayo a number of resident agricultural overseers to give instruction and to conduct practical field demonstrations in those districts. All small holders of land whether on estates purchased by the Congested Districts Board or otherwise, may avail themselves of the services of the 1460 overseers, and benefit by the special schemes put into operation for the supply of spraying machines, the improvement of live stock, and the supply of seeds and manures for demonstration plots. An experimental scheme for the sale of ordinary farm implements at reduced prices has been tried, and the question of extending this scheme and revising the special schemes for agricultural development of the congested districts, is at present under the consideration of the Department.