§ 139. Mr. DORISasked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Congested Districts Board for Ireland will be able to resume the purchase of congested estates; and by what authority the Treasury have suspended the operation of the Land Purchase Acts by refusing to advance to the board or the Estates Commissioners the funds necessary for the purpose?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe operation of the Land Purchase Acts has not been suspended, and advances have continued to be made to the Estates Commissioners for this purpose throughout the War. Of these advances the Congested Districts Board has received the proportion allocated for their requirements by the Irish Government; and the Treasury has taken no action in regard to this allocation. In 1915, however, the Congested Districts Board approached the Treasury for a 2531W special loan for improvement of estates already in their hands, and in connection with this loan it was agreed that no fresh agreement should be entered into by the board until they had arranged for the resettlement of the very large number of estates already taken over in anticipation of purchase.