§ 4. Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of evicted tenants who have not yet been reinstated in their holdings, or been provided with holdings in lieu of them, under the Evicted Tenants Act?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)There have been 3,370 evicted tenants or the representatives of evicted tenants reinstated in their former holdings or provided with new holdings as purchasers under the Irish Land Purchase Acts, and 260 have been provisionally noted for consideration by the Estates Commissioners in connection with the allotment of untenanted land as acquired.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he does not deal largely and generously with this question, this irritating question, so as to remove it once for all from the purview of politics?
§ Mr. BIRRELL"Largely" and "generously" are words of varied interpretation, and I am disposed to think that has already been done.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYIs there any prospect of those tenants who are still out getting reinstated in their former holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLOf course, a number of evicted tenants for definite reasons have been passed over altogether as being persons who would make no use, or no good use, of agricultural holdings. There are only 260 persons who have been passed, and who have not yet been provided for.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYWill the right hon. Gentleman see that those 260 persons are dealt with without further delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes; I will see that they are dealt with as quickly as possible.
§ 6. Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chief Secretary if ho will ask the Estates Commissioners to reconsider the case of Thomas Courtney, brother and legal representative of the late Henry Courtney, an evicted tenant who applied for reinstatement or for a new holding under the Evicted Tenants Act; and will he call the Commissioners' attention to the fact that the necessary notices of application were served in due time, and that Thomas Courtney has eight sons and five daughters to provide for?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs the hon. Member has already been informed, the Estates Commissioners, after inquiry and consideration, decided not to take any action with reference to the late Henry Courtney's application for reinstatement in a holding on the estate of Lord Rathdonnell, county Fermanagh, formerly occupied by him, and now in the possession of another tenant, and they are not prepared to provide his representative with a holding elsewhere. The Commissioners cannot see their way to depart from their decision in this case.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYIs it not the fact that the applicant, who is brother and legal representative of Henry Courtney, has eight sons and three daughters still un-provided for, and that he was put off a holding of 200 acres?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThat may be so, but I cannot see my way to make any alteration in the decision of the Commissioners.
§ 7. Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chief Secretary if he will ask the Estates Commissioners to reconsider the application of James M'Gourty for reinstatement in the holding of Belcoo, county Fermanagh, from which he was evicted, or to provide him with a new holding in lieu of it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already informed the hon. Member, the Estates Commissioners see no reason to alter their decision in the matter of James M'Gourty's application for reinstatement.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what there is against this young man that he could not get some holding in place of the one he was evicted from?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is a matter left to the decision of the Commissioners, and I cannot take it upon myself to revise this decision.
8. Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary how many men, women, and children were recently evicted at Augnish, North Clare, on the Wilson Lynch estate, and the circumstances under which they were evicted; whether any efforts were made to purchase this estate and why such efforts, if made, failed; and whether any further efforts will be made to settle the estate by purchase and so bring about the reinstatement of the people who have been evicted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed that six families, consisting of thirty persons, including men, women, and children, were evicted on this estate for non-payment of rent. The estate was offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, but before an offer for purchase was issued the owner died, and his son has decided not to proceed with the sale at present. The Board are quite ready to take any action open to them in the matter.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEMay I ask whether the forces of the Crown were used in evicting these tenants from their holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have no doubt the police were present. I have no power to stop them.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask whether, in accordance with the new doctrine laid down, the police were asked if they had any conscientious objections to throwing out these old men, women, and children on to the roads?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI hope not.
Mr. W. REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman see whether the Congested Districts Board can open up fresh negotiations with a view to the reinstatement of those tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLCertainly I will.