§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain and state the number of non-judicial tenant purchasers on Captain Smyth's Coole estate, Westmeath, in whose cases the Estates Commissioners have found the prices to be excessive, and the percentages of the excess; what measures, if any, the Government propose to take to protect those people now called upon either to pay the excess disallowed by the Commissioners, or to revert to their former status of tenants and pay arrears of the old rents; whether the Commissioners can make any reduction in the prices based upon judicial rents on the same estate; and when they expect to be able to deal with the estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the case of six non-judicial tenants on this estate the Estate Commissioners were not prepared to sanction the full amount of the advances applied for in the purchase agreements. In five of these cases the vendor has agreed to accept the advances which the Commissioners were prepared to make, and the sixth case is under consideration. With one exception the agreements signed by the judicial tenants came within the zones, and the holdings are therefore deemed to be security for the advances applied for. In the remaining case the Commissioners, after inquiry, decided to sanction the advance applied for. All the holdings for which purchase agreements were lodged, except five, have now been vested.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked on what date the Estates Commissioners first instructed their inspector to visit and report upon the Kilmore grass farm, Kavanagh estate, Westmeath; why this has not yet been done; whether the Commissioners are 269 aware that the tenant is now making the purchase and distribution of the farm more difficult by erecting on it costly buildings unsuitable for small holdings; whether, in view of this action and the continued emigration from the neighbourhood for want of the land, the transaction will be expedited; and when they propose to deal with this land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe papers in this case were sent to an inspector in February last with instructions to inspect and report upon these lands as soon as his other engagements would permit, and he hopes to do so at an early date. The Estates Commissioners are not in a position to furnish the information asked for in the remainder of the question until the lands have been inspected.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan any Department of the Irish Government take no action to prevent the enhancement of the value of this property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir; they can take no further action than they have taken.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEAre we to understand that so congested is the business in the Land Commission Office in Dublin that it takes more than four months after an inspector is instructed to proceed to inspect the estate before he can find time to get there?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt does appear to be the fact from the answer I have given that in this case it has taken a little over three months before he has found time to do the work.
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of the fact that the building of these unsuitable buildings will prevent the purchase and distribution of the land, will the right hon. Gentleman himself write to the tenant in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, I cannot undertake to do that.