§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state, in continuation of the table given in a Written Answer on 22nd June, 1909, with reference to The Irish Land Act, 1903, in respect of the period from 1st June, 1909, to 31st December, 1909, the number of estates for the sale of which proceedings have been instituted by owners direct to tenants, and for the purchase of which advances either have or have not been made, the number of purchased agreements lodged, the amount of advances made and applied 2723W for, and the amount lodged or to be lodged in cash by the purchasing tenants; and whether he will give the corresponding figures for the period since 31st Deecmber, 1909, in respect of the Irish Land Act, 1909?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that during the period from 1st June to 31st December, 1909, proceedings for the direct sale of eighty estates were instituted before them, the number of purchase agreements lodged in that period being 1,970 applying for an advance of £459,609, the tenants to pay £36,008 in cash. These figures do not include purchase agreements at 3¼ per cent. annuity lodged after the 15th September, 1909, and subsequently returned, having regard to the provisions of Section 13 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. During the same period advances amounting to £2,106,703 were made in respect of 5,950 holdings, the amount paid in cash by the purchasing tenants being £44,651. Since the 1st January last proceedings in direct sales under the Irish Land Act, 1909, have been instituted in respect of 35 estates, the number of agreements lodged at 3½ per cent. annuities under the Act being 2,436, applying for advances amounting to £623,514, the amount of cash to be paid by the tenant purchasers being £3,003. During the same period advances amounting to £1,666,604 have been made in respect of 5,371 holdings in pending sales under the Irish Land Act, 1903, the cash payments made by the purchasing tenants being £11,175. £19,409 in Three per Cent. Stock has also been advanced under the Act of 1909 in respect of seventy-five holdings, a cash payment of £5 being made by one of the purchasing tenants.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked how many defaulters under the Act of 1903 were in county Limerick on 1st July; how much rent they owed; and whether, having regard to the fact that the ratepayers of the county are liable for such defalcations, will the names of those who have refused to pay and the amount they owe be published, so that county councils may know who they are paying for?
§ Mr. BIRRELLTable 172 in the Appendix to the Annual Report of the Land Commission which has just been presented to Parliament contains the particulars asked for in the question in respect of annuity payers, under the Act of 1903, who were in default in respect of two or more instalments on 1st July, 1910. It would not be practicable to give a list of2724W those in arrear on 1st July in respect of the instalment due 1st June last. Payments from persons thus temporarily in arrear are being received from day to day, and many have paid since 1st July.
Captain COOPERasked in how many cases in the county of Kerry proceedings have been taken against tenant purchasers under the Land Acts of 1903 and 1909 for non-payment of interest or annuities; in how many cases have writs been issued; how many of these have been executed; what is the total sum in default; and how many tenant purchasers are involved?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Land Commission inform me that 179 cases in respect of annuities due to 1st December, 1909, were sent to the Commissioners' solicitors in county Kerry for civil bill proceedings and three cases for proceedings in the superior courts. In 111 of these cases proceedings were instituted, and at this date there are seven payers in arrear, owing £62 6s. 8d. In the same county the number of cases in arrear for interest in lieu of rent due up to let November, 1909, and referred to solicitors for proceedings was 487. In 238 or these cases proceedings were instituted, and at this date there are eighty-three payers in arrear, owing £769 1s. 9d.