§ 29. Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now prepared to make any statement concerning compensation to be paid to allotment holders at Cregagh, near Belfast, for damage done to their holdings on the 30th September, 1917, by cattle in the possession of the military authorities; and whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Recorder of Belfast that it was a proper claim for compensation, and one which would undoubtedly have been paid if civilians had been the defendants?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe allotment holders have asserted a legal right which the Department cannot admit, but if the legal claim is withdrawn the Department is willing to consider the case on its merits for compensation as an act of grace. Instructions have been sent to the local military authorities accordingly.
§ Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot answer that yet, because obviously it is still under consideration.