§ 82. Mr. DELANYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether application has been made by the sub-tenants on the Grattan-Bellew estate, Queen's County, for permission to purchase their holdings; 1671 whether the middlemen on the estate have consented to the request of their subtenants to be permitted to purchase; and, if not, can he say what course the Commissioners propose adopting?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have received a communication on behalf of the sub-tenants on the estate of Sir Henry Grattan-Bellew, Queen's County, of the nature referred to in the question. This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Land Purchase Acts, and has been inspected, and the Commissioners are in communication with the vendor in regard to the cases of the sub-tenants and other matters. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to make any statements regarding the matters referred to in the latter part of the question.
§ 34. Mr. NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in his evidence before the Committee on Irish Finance the Commissioner of Valuation stated that Griffith's valuation of agricultural land was considerably below the statutory value; whether he is aware that judicial rents and land purchase annuities have been fixed in many cases below Griffith's valuation; and whether, in using Griffith's valuation, a judicial rent or a land purchase annuity as a basis from which to deduce the full capital value of land an under-estimation of from 20 to 30 per cent. will be arrived at?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)Griffith's valuation is, generally speaking, considerably below the statutory value of agricultural land. This statutory value includes not only the rent but the occupier's interest. Both of these would be taken into account when arriving at the full capital value.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYOn what authority does the right hon. Gentleman make that statement?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI could not answer that, but I think it is the usual authority.
§ Mr. NEWMANDoes it agree with Sir John Barton's evidence before the Committee on Irish Finance?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI could not answer that without notice.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs it Sir John Barton's opinion he has given in his answer?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI cannot say. I can only say that the information I have received is through the usual authorities, but I think it would be very unusual to specify a particular official.