Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the decisions in re Roulston (1909), 1 Irish Reports, 306, and in National Bank v. Diffely (1910), 1 Irish Reports, 271, that neither a judgment mortgage nor an equitable mortgage by deposit of title deeds are within the restrictions on mortgaging contained in Section 54 of the Irish Land Act, 1903; and whether he will consider the desirability of so amending that Section as to bring within it either or both of these classes of mortgage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been drawn to the decisions to which the hon. Member refers. They are decisions upon the construction of a provision in Section 54 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, which imposes restrictions upon the mortgaging of holdings by tenant purchasers. Whether any further restrictions of this nature are required is a question which will no doubt be considered in connection with any Bill for the general amendment of the Land Purchase Acts.