§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he would say in what way the Estates Commissioners protect, pending completion of sale, tenants who, relying upon their protection, have, under duress, signed purchase agreements at prices found by the Commissioners to be in excess of the amount for which the holdings are security; whether they are indifferent to the weakening of the security caused by making the extra payment with borrowed money or with money due to be spent on the necessary improvement and working of the holdings; and whether, in the specific instance on Colonel James Smyth's estate, Westmeath, they will make themselves parties to the landlord's conduct by allowing him to exclude from the sale a holding so circumstanced and to evict the tenant, who is willing to buy at the price the Commissioners have found the holding to be worth?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe rate of interest in lieu of rent payable by a purchasing tenant pending the advance of the purchase money is a matter of agreement between the vendor and the purchaser and 542 is not one in which the Estates Commissioners can interfere. The Commissioners are not prepared to advance in full the amounts applied for in respect of certain holdings on the estate referred to in the question, and the solicitors having carriage of the sale have been so informed.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs not the Commissioners' decision that a holding is not security for a larger sum than that offered substantially a decision that the holding is not worth more, and while the Congested Districts Board takes action to restrain the landlord in such cases in the exercise of their compulsory power will the Estates Commissioners take similar action?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo; they have no power to do anything further in these cases than they have done. The interest which is paid in lieu of rent is a matter of agreement between landlord and tenant.