HC Deb 18 May 1909 vol 5 cc378-9W
Mr. SHEEHAN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it has been brought to his notice that since the introduction of the Land Bill Messrs. Nussey and Townsend, Cork, estate agents, wrote to Patrick Kelleher, a tenant on the estate of S. G. Wallis Adams, at Cockhill, Mill-street, county Cork, to the effect that the second term tenants on the estate had purchased at 22 years, and that, as he had not agreed to those terms, lie would now have to pay 24 years' purchase to make up for the loss of,.£9 per cent. bonus; and, seeing that on various estates tenants have been excluded from the general purchase on unjust or unreasonable grounds and are compelled in the meantime to continue paying their old rack-rents whilst their neighbours enjoy substantial abatements, will he introduce a clause into his Bill providing that in all such cases the tenants shall have immediately the benefit of a special inspection and valuation by the Estates Commissioners with compulsory assessment of a fair purchase price?

Mr. BIRRELL

The hon. Member has brought the agents' letter in reference to Kelleher's case to my notice. As regards the latter portion of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of the Bill now before Parliament.