§ Mr. GINNELLasked, having regard to the period for payment of interest in lieu of rent, which purchasers understood to be a temporary arrangement for months only, now through no fault of theirs extending to years, with a consequent increase in the total payments, how many quasi-purchasers have been paying this interest for eight, seven, and six years, respectively; and in what year each of these classes may at the present progress expect to be relieved of this extra burden by the vesting of their holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am unable to give the figures in the classified form asked for. There are in all 134,437 cases in which interest is in collection pending the completion of the sale to the tenant in each case. In some instances the cases have been on the Commissioners' books since 1905. The order in which advances are made is governed by the provisions of Section 4 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, and the Regulations made under that Section.
§ Mr. GINNELLHas the right hon. Gentleman asked the Estates Commissioners to furnish an estimate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are very busily employed in carrying out their functions, and, having regard to the great delay there is already, the task of preparing the Return would make the delay much greater than it is.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENCould the right Gentleman give us some rough idea of what is the yearly loss of these 134,000 tenants, owing to the non-completion of their bargain by the State?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe bargain by the State fixed no limit of time. The bargain had to be carried out, and is being carried out. I will, however, try to ascertain what the hon. Member asks.
§ Mr. MOOREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that public opinion in Ireland is unanimous that this delay has been occasioned by the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is quite impossible that public opinion in Ireland should be unanimous on any question.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked why the Return of estates for sale in the Land Judge's Court in Ireland, which this House ordered in March, 1911, has not yet been produced; whether it is now proposed to make it up to the present date; and when it will be available?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Return referred to (No. 269) was presented to Parliament on 14th August last, and has been printed and circulated.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked whether the Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from the tenants on the estate of the late Captain M'Ternan, Barnameenagh, Drumshanba, county Leitrim; and whether, having regard to the congested state of the district and the amount of waste land available, the Board will take steps to acquire the estate and relieve congestion.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board received a memorial from four tenants on the estate of the late Captain Hugh. M'Ternan in the district referred to, and they are making inquiries with a view to entering into negotiations for the purchase of the property.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that an agreement was entered into by the owner of the Nicholson estate, Balrath, county Meath, and the occupiers of small holdings whereby it was agreed that the uneconomic holdings should be enlarged to any extent, that an inspector from the Commissioners should recommend; and whether, having regard to the urgency of the case and to the fact that both the vendor and the purchasing tenants are desirous to settle the matter, an inspector will be sent at an early date?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the matter referred to by the hon. Member will be inquired into when the estate is being inspected in order of priority.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the Alexander estate, situate at Cruice- 390 town, county Meath; and, if so, whether a distribution scheme is in course of preparation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply, given to his question on this subject on the 11th May last, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether the Estates Commissioners received a memorial from local applicants that the Barlow estate, situate at Drumrone, near Nobber, county Meath, be divided among them; whether, if their prayer is not conceded, there is any more untenanted land in the district to satisfy their needs; if it is proposed to give almost the whole of the estate, with the dwelling-house thereon, to a Mr. Patrick Gunning, Carlton House, Tuam, county Galway; if this man is an ex-policeman; whether any inquiry has been made as to his capacity to work a farm in a county with which he is unacquainted and where he may be regarded as an unwelcome stranger; and under what section it is proposed to give the farm?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received a number of applications for parcels of land on the Barlow estate, county Meath. The Commissioners have allotted a farm of some 120 acres on that property to Patrick Gunning, who has arranged with the Commissioners for the surrender of his farm in county Galway to enable them to relieve the acute congestion in that district. The Commissioners understand that Gunning formerly served in the police, and they are aware that he is a practical farmer, and fully capable of working lands allotted to him. The lands in question are not, in the opinion of the Commissioners, suitable for sub-division.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether Thomas Cruise, of Mullinstoghan, Moynalty, county Meath, who was offered a farm on the Farrell estate, at Robertstown, and declined it because of its un-suitability, will be considered in the distribution of the Blake estate, at Cormeen, if it be acquired by the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received applications for reinstatement from Thomas Cruise and William Cruise, who are respectively the brother and son of Patrick Cruise, whose former holding on the Hussey estate is now occupied by a tenant purchaser. The Commissioners proposed to allot another holding jointly to Thomas and William Cruise, but 391 Thomas Cruise refused to sign a joint agreement, and the Commissioners decided to take no further action in the matter of his application.