§ Mr McKEANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the Estates Commissioners advanced large sums to Mr. M. Carr and his mother, on the Grattan Bellew estate, county Galway, to purchase over 700 acres, while they left twelve tenants on the same estate, having only an average of 8 acres each, without any increase in their holdings and who are debarred from getting increased holdings from the Congested Districts Board owing to the fact that they are all over £10 valuation; will the Estates Commissioners take steps to distribute amongst the above twelve tenants the farm called Patch, containing 273 acres, held as a grazing farm up to the time the undertaking to purchase agreements were signed, and for which the Estates Commissioners advanced to Mr. M. Carr £3,000 to purchase; if not, where are the above twelve tenants to get increased holdings to bring them near the level of what tenants similarly situated on adjoining estates have got; and will he state what action the Estates Commissioners purpose taking in the cases of the above tenants sent to them on the 20th June by the honorary secretary, Moylough Tenants' Association?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe parties named in the first part of the question were tenants of the lands, and the advances were made to them as such under the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts. The lands have been vested in the purchasing tenants, and the Estates Commissioners do not intend to take any action in the matter.