§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked whether the Estates Commissioners received an application from Michael M'Gowan, of Conswell, North, an evicted tenant on the Johnston estate, Kinlough, county Leitrim, for a free grant; and whether, having regard to the fact that M'Gowan was compelled to pay two years arrears of rent before being reinstated, which left him without means to work his farm or repair his house, he will be awarded a grant to enable him to stock his farm and rebuild his house?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member presumably refers to the case of Martin M'Gowan, who signed an agreement to purchase his former holding on the Johnston estate, which is the subject of direct sale proceedings under the Irish Land Act, 1903. His application has been inquired into, and is at present under consideration.
§ Mr. O'SHEEasked whether Mr. John N. Wall, of Dungarvan, who was evicted within the statutory limit for non-payment of rent from two holdings, and who lodged an application under the Land Act of 1903 with the Estates Commissioners as an evicted tenant, is entitled under that Act to be provided with a holding; whether the Estates Commissioners duly noted his application about four years ago, and in their discretion decided that he was a suitable evicted tenant and that they would provide him with a holding; what are the grounds on which the Estates Commissioners are now departing from that decision; and whether it is open to them to alter their present view on sufficient grounds and to again decide to provide Mr. Wall with a holding?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question on this subject on the 1st instant, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. O'SHEEWas not the right hon. Gentleman's former reply that the Commissioners did not see their way to reinstate Mr. Wall to his evicted holding, and is it not the fact that those evicted holdings are in the possession of other persons who cannot be dispossessed; and will he ask the Commissioners if they cannot see their way to reinstate Mr. Wall in another holding elsewhere?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn my former answer I stated that the Commissioners did not intend to provide Wall with a farm elsewhere.
§ Mr. O'SHEECan the right hon. Gentleman give the ground on which the Commissioners refused to do so?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo; the Commissioners, for very obvious reasons, refuse to state publicly their grounds for making a refusal of this character.
§ Mr. O'SHEECould the right hon. Gentleman give me the name of the inspector who interviewed Wall in regard to the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo; if I am not going to say anything I had better not give an opening.