§ 46. Mr. NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the address to the county grand jury delivered by Mr. Justice Dodd, at Cork, on the 18th instant, in which he states that some tenants are withholding their rents in order to compel their landlords to sell their estates, and thus affording further evidence of the need for the passing into law of the new Land Bill; and whether, in view of the desire of all classes of the agricultural community in Ireland that the policy of land purchase should be completed, it is the intention of the Government to proceed this Session with the Bill now before the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy attention has not been called to the address referred to otherwise than by the hon. Member's question. As regards the last part of the question, I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the subject on the 26th ultimo.
§ 109. Mr. STEPHEN GWYNNasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the Erasmus Smith Board estate, at Renmore, Galway, is likely to be reached by the Estates Commissioners in its order of priority; and whether he can do anything to accelerate the redivision of land in this congested area?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)Having regard to the position of this estate on the principal register of direct sales, and to the prior claims of other estates, the purchase agreements in respect of which were lodged at an earlier date, the Estates Commissioners are unable at present to say when this estate will be dealt with. The Commissioners have no power to deal with this estate out of its order of priority, but when reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.