§ 7. Colonel YATEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how much land has been allotted by the Congested Districts Board and the Estates Commissioners in Ireland under the Land Purchase Acts since the commencement of the War up to date to the families of men who have served in the War and to those who have not so served, respectively?
10. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the distribution of lands acquired by the State the promise made by the Government that men who had volunteered for service or who have served should have preferential consideration has been largely disregarded by the officials who make the distribution; and will he see that all cases where land has been refused to soldiers or ex-soldiers or their wives will be again considered, and an endeavour made to provide them with the land they ask for?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Samuels)About 850 acres of land have been allotted by the Estates Commissioners within the last eighteen months to persons to whom the Commissioners can make allotments of untenanted lands under their existing statutory powers, and who have been selected because they themselves were serving, or had served, in the War, or had members of their families so serving. The policy of the Congested Districts Board is also to allot lands to persons who have so served, by themselves or their sons, but owing to the present limited powers of the Board only a small number of families have as yet been qualified to receive allotments in the congested districts.
There is no foundation for the suggestion made against public officials in the question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Enfield Division (Major Newman).
§ Colonel YATEI do not understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer how much land has been given to the families of men who are not old soldiers?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI have not the details at present.
§ Colonel YATEIt is in the question.
Major NEWMANArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer to my question, could I send him details of cases where the Board have not given land to soldiers, and have treated the soldiers rather roughly.?
§ Mr. SAMUELSIf the hon. and gallant Member will furnish any particular instance, I will have inquiry made. With regard to the question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Colonel Yate), I will have the further information looked for.
§ Colonel YATEI will put down a question next week.
§ Mr. SAMUELSThat question does not arise here.
9. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, for the benefit of Members called on to discuss the proposed distribution of land to soldiers, he will give a definition of what is meant in Ireland by untenanted land; and can he give any estimate of the amount of untenanted land at the present date?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe discussion of a suitable definition of untenanted land would be more appropriate during the consideration of a Bill, and I cannot undertake to go into the technicalities of the subject in reply to a question. There is no exhaustive definition of untenanted land in the Land Purchase Code, but the term has been interpreted by certain legal decisions. Speaking generally, untenanted land is land not subject to a tenancy, but the fact that land is not subject to a tenancy does not ipsn facto constitute it land which could be purchased as untenanted land under the Land Purchase Acts. As to the last part of the question, I have no information at present, but inquiries are being made pending which no statement can be furnished.
§ Sir E. CARSONMay I ask my hon. and learned Friend whether a copy of that answer will be given to every man who is asked to recruit?
13. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has read the recommendations made by the late Irish Convention that the landlords' interest in all tenanted land should be automatically and compulsorily transferred to the tenant or to the State, and that within certain districts all untenanted land should be compulsorily acquired by the State, and in the rest of Ireland additional powers to those already existing be granted to the State to compulsorily acquire land; and is it intended to base the acquisition of land for the settlement of soldiers on the lines so recommended?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, I have nothing to add to the reply given on Tuesday to a number of questions on this subject.
§ 16.Mr. KINGasked whether before Lord French's Proclamation offering land 2348 to recruits in Ireland was issued the advice was taken of the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board; and whether their full co-operation is secured for the Government proposals?
§ Mr. SAMUELSYes, Sir.