HC Deb 23 January 1913 vol 47 cc586-7
11. Mr. J. P. FARRELL

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire land if he will state whether his attention has been called to correspondence with Mr. J. M. Synge, Oast Court, Barham, Kent, as to the sale of a small portion of his property, consisting of eleven holdings in the county of Longford, to the occupying tenants; whether he is aware that the larger portion of this property was sold to the other tenants many years ago; whether it was owing to the action of the Land Commission in refusing to pass these eleven holdings that their sale was prevented; and whether, having regard to the fact that this state of things is creating unrest and dissatisfaction in county Longford, he will ask the Estates Com missioners to communicate with Mr. Synge with a view to arranging for the purchase of this part of the property under Section 42 of the Land Act, 1909?

The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)

The Estates Commissioners are not aware of the correspondence to which the hon. Member refers, but if a copy of it is forwarded to them together with particulars of the area, Poor Law valuation of each holding and the price at which the present tenant in each case is prepared to purchase, the suggestion of the hon. Member will be considered by the Commissioners.

19. Captain CRAIG

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received a communication from unpurchased tenants in part of the East Down Division of county Down urging that further steps be taken to complete sales in that locality; whether he has given a sympathetic answer; is he aware that his Act of 1908 has greatly retarded land purchase in all parts of the country; and whether he will revert to the former practice under the Act of 1903?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have received the communication referred to, and a map showing the state of land purchase in the district, for which I expressed my thanks. The Irish Land Act of 1909 removed the deadlock in pending sales under the Act of 1903, which could not have been carried out under the financial provisions of the latter Act without imposing on the Irish ratepayer an obligation which is generally admitted to be impossible.