§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the estate of W. R. L. Marshall, Milltown, county Kerry, was vested in the Estates Commissioners in July, 1909, when the purchase money was paid to the vendor; whether, since then, the Commissioners have required the tenants to pay at the rate of 3½ per cent. on the purchase price on the three gales since due; whether the tenants will be refunded the amount they have overpaid, being the difference between 2¾ per cent. and 3½ per cent. on the purchase money and vesting order to begin from the next gale day, or whether they will be refunded the difference between 3¼ per cent. and 3½ per cent. and their vesting order dated from the time of paying the purchase price to the vendor?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to was vested in the Land Commission on 10th June, 1909, and the purchase money was paid on 29th July, 1909. Section 18 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, provides that the interest payable by the tenants under Section 35 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1896, shall be at the rate of 3½ per cent. This interest is payable by each purchaser up to the date of the order vesting his holding in him, and as the holdings on this estate have not yet been vested in the tenants owing to their delay in executing the necessary deed arranging for the maintenance of an embankment on the estate, the tenants are still liable for the payment of interest at 3½ per cent. The Commissioners have no power to refund any of this interest.