§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked whether a special staff is employed in the Irish Land Commission for dealing with defaulting tenants under Section 35 of the Land Act, 1906, whose annuities were in arrear when the owners of the various estates were being paid the purchase money; what is the extent of the staff; and can he say in how many cases the proceedings taken were abortive for the years 1908, 1909 and 1910?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Redmond Barry)It is presumed that the hon. Member, in speaking of annuities in arrear when advances are being made, means interest in lieu of rent. Land Purchase Annuities only become payable when the advance has been made. No special staff is employed for the purpose of dealing with defaulters who are in arrear with the payment of interest in lieu of rent. In no case can it be said that proceedings for the recovery of interest in lieu of rent have been finally abortive. In some instances proceedings for the recovery of such interest have so far failed, but in these cases proceedings for the sale of the holdings have been, or will be, taken under Section 34 of the Act of 1909.
§ Mr. KENNEDYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that several sales have been abortive, and yet the tenants go on paying the interest just as if nothing had happened?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI have given to the hon. Member the information supplied to me by the Estates Commissioners.
§ Mr. KENNEDYI am personally aware of the facts. The hon. Member further asked if the right hon. Gentleman will state in how many cases have Land Commission sales taken place for unpaid interest in lieu of rent which accrued prior to vesting holdings in the tenants under the 1903 and 1909 Land Acts; is it possible to deduct the arrears of interest from the purchase money payable to the owners; and, in view of the fact that in all such cases referred to the owners have so to speak stripped the tenants and the lands prior to sale, will he take steps to prevent such owners from profiting at the expense of the State for these methods?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe sale of holdings for non-payment of interest in lieu of rent was first provided for by Section 34 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. The number of holdings, which have since been so sold is fifteen. The answer to the second paragraph of the question is in the negative. Interest in lieu of rent is not paid to the landlord at the expense of the State. The purchase agreement signed by the tenant covenants for the payment of such interest, which is always considerably less than the rent previously payable, and the Land Commission is bound under statute to collect it pending the making of the advance.
§ Mr. KENNEDYWill the right hon. Gentleman state who pays the auctioneer when the sales are abortive, if it is not the State?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe answer is that the sales were not abortive.