§ Mr. KELLYasked he Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the allegations made by the hon. Member for East Donegal as to the distribution of the lands of the Stewart estate, county Donegal, by the Estates Commissioners; as to the use by the new tenants of their allotments; and as to the exclusion of duly qualified applicants in favour of individuals who had not the statutory qualifications?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Estates Commissioners have ascertained that the allottees of three of the parcels of land distributed by them on the Stewart estate have set portion of their parcels for the purposes of tillage for this season. In one case the purchasers 755W are sons of a small occupier, and are at present on active service. Their brother, who is managing the lands in their absence, has set portion for tillage and will cultivate the remainder. In the second case, the purchaser is tenant of a small holding, and he has a son serving in the Army. He has set 2 acres and ploughed up the rest. In the third case, the allottee is the son of a small occupier and is a wounded soldier recently discharged on pension. He has set portion of his parcel for tillage and is arranging to plough the remainder. In allotting the lands the Commissioners decided to give a preference to those who had served or are serving in His Majesty's Forces, or who had members of their families so serving.