§ 88 Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) in view of the term mutually agreed to six years ago by the vendors and tenant-purchasers of the Reid and M'Endoo estate, Westmeath, that the untenanted grass farm called Nolagh would be sold for distribution and enlargement of the uneconomic holdings in a manner then legal, but rendered inoperative by the Land Act of 1909, the distribution of the land being the substantial thing, the method immaterial, whether the Act of 1909 is now made the sole pretext for refusing to carry out the agreement; and whether, in view of the Estates Commissioners' power to purchase and distribute the land substantially in accordance with the aforesaid agreement, they will do this when they come to deal with this estate; and (2) whether the Irish Government will allow the intention of Parliament, in passing the Land Act of 1909, and one of the terms mutually agreed to by the vendors and tenant-purchasers of the Reid and M'Endoo estate, Westmeath, to be defeated by the vendors on the technical ground that that Act has rendered it impossible; and whether the vendors will be required to carry out in the manner provided by the Act of 1909 substantially what they agreed to do in a manner allowed by the Act of 1903 when the agreement was made?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already informed the hon. Member no purchase agreements were entered into between the parties for the sale of these lands prior to the Act of 1909, and under that Act no advances can now be made under Section 2 of the Act of 1903 for the sale of parcels of untenanted land by landlords direct to the tenants. The Estates Commissioners will consider the question of the acquisition of the lands referred to when they are dealing with the property in its order of priority.
§ Mr. MOOREMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that the agreement for the sale of this estate included the creation of tenancies on land in the landlords' own hands, and subsequent sale to the Estates Commissioners, and if his Act of 1909 does not block that and thereby prevent the sale?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is the fact that under the Act of 1909 advances could not be made under these circumstances.
§ Mr. MOOREWill the right hon. Gentleman see if the Estates Commissioners proceed to acquire this land that a similar amount will be given as would have been offered before his Act was passed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have already said the Estates Commissioners will consider the question of acquisition in all its bearings when they come to deal with this land in order of priority.
§ Mr. MOOREWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake that the vendor will not suffer any loss by reason of this Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir.