HC Deb 23 April 1917 vol 92 cc2026-7
84. Mr. SHEEHY

asked why none of the lands of the Heffernan estate, Ratheernie, Athboy, and the lands of Adanstown, Athboy, both in Meath, have not been tilled?

Mr. DUKE

If the hon. Member will supply the Department of Agriculture with particulars as to the lands referred to inquiry will be made.

85. Mr. SHEEHY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a landowner named W. B. Parr holds 2,000 acres near Athboy, county Meath, and has only tilled 15 acres himself, 35 acres more of the land being tilled by a sawmill owner; has Parr been excused from tilling 5 per cent. of his land for each of five brood mares; and what penalty, if any, is to be inflicted on him for not fully complying with the tillage regulations?

Mr. DUKE

I am informed that Mr. Parr holds much less than 2,000 acres, and that he has tilled more than the area stated; also that his thoroughbred stock is much more numerous than stated. He has not been treated exceptionally as regards exemption of portion of his land for stud farm purposes.

Mr. SHEEHY

How many horses has he been exempted for?

Mr. DUKE

I dare say that the hon. Member knows that better than I do.

Mr. SHEEHY

Did the inspector who visited this man's estate count the number of mares?

86. Mr. SHEEHY

asked whether all the tenants on Sir John Dillon's Cardistown estate, county Meath, have got their vesting orders; whether a man named Becket who got a farm on the property has had the farm vested in him; if so, whether he has let the farm for eleven months; whether he has done any tillage on the farm; and, if not, why not?

Mr. DUKE

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The tenanted portion of the estate is the subject of proceedings for direct sale by the owner to the tenants, and Purchase Agreements have been lodged, and will be dealt with in their order of priority. The owner also sold some untenanted land to the Estates Commissioners, and the allottees have signed Purchase Agreements for allotments which will be vested in them in due course. Mr. Becket was allotted portion of the untenanted land in consideration of surrendering lands held by him in Connaught to the Congested Districts Board for the relief of congestion. I have no information as to the other matters referred to in the question, except that Mr. Becket is arranging to carry out his proportion of extra tillage on lands which he occupies in county Mayo.

Mr. SHEEHY

Is the arrangement to carry out the rules 011 this farm in Meath?

Mr. DUKE

No; but on other lands which he occupies.