HC Deb 09 May 1912 vol 38 cc720-1W
Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, contrary to the wishes of the people of county Cavan, expressed by resolution of the Cavan County Council, the Estates Commissioners planted James M'Cullagh on the lands of Kilmore, in county Cavan, and replied to the resolution of the Cavan County Council that they had no desire or intention to alter their decision of doing so, although the lands of Kilmore were acquired for the purpose of reinstating evicted tenants; is he aware that James M'Cullagh is an evicted tenant, and that there are twelve evicted tenants in the vicinity already recommended for reinstatement by the Estates Commissioners, but who have not yet been reinstated; and, in view of the dissatisfaction and disturbance occasioned in the district, will he take any action in the matter?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Estates Commissioners received the resolution referred to relative to the allotment of portion of the lands of Kilmore, and in reply stated that the lands had been allotted in the exercise of the discretion vested in them, and that they had no power to vary the arrangements which had been made. The lands were not acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act, but were utilised by the Commissioners for the purposes of facilitating the reinstatement of evicted tenants. One of the farms was allotted by them to M'Cullagh in consideration of his surrendering two farms in the same county, one of which was an evicted farm, and it has been given to the evicted tenant, and the second holding has been given to another county Cavan evicted tenant. The Commissioners experience great difficulty in obtaining untenanted land which persons desirious of surrendering evicted holdings are willing to accept, and if such persons are to be intimidated in the occupation of the new farms granted to them, it will be impossible for the Commissioners to obtain the surrender of evicted holdings, and will make it increasingly difficult to carry out the provisions of the Acts relating to the reinstatement of evicted tenants.