§ Mr. CREANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners demand payment from evicted tenants, sometimes within two months after they have been put in possession of their holdings, for whatever sum may fall due before the regular half-yearly instalments begin; whether he is aware that the majority of those tenants are so poor that they are unable to meet, without borrowing, the expensive farming operations 108W which have to be taken in hand when they first take over possession of the land; and whether some arrangements could be made by the Estates Commissioners so that no call for payment would be made on such tenants until such times as it may be reasonably expected that some return is being had from the land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are not aware of the cases to which the hon. Member refers, but the general rule is that instalments of purchase annuities are collected each half-year in accordance with the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts and the Rules made under those Acts. Where cases are brought to their attention in which the Commissioners are of opinion that difficulty would arise, such as is indicated in the question, they endeavour to make such arrangements as will prevent hardship or undue strain on the tenant's resources.
§ Mr. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an application had been made to the Estates Commissioners on behalf.of Richard Walsh for reinstatement in two holdings, namely, Looreems, Carthy, and Knochanecrough, on the Drummis estate, Cordal, county Kerry, from which his father was evicted; and whether seeing that the land is untenanted and in the landlord's possession, and that the bonâ fides of Walsh's claim is not disputed, he will direct that the Estates Commissioners take steps to have him reinstated without further delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inquired into the application, and ascertained that Edmond Walsh when tenant of the lands in question sub-let them, and never resided on the holdings. He became a bankrupt, and the landlord was obliged to take up the lands, and they now form part of his demesne. The Commissioners are not prepared to take any action in the matter of his son's application for reinstatement.
§ Mr. AUGUSTINE ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the application of Mr. Michael Duffy, of Dublin Street, Dundalk, for reinstatement in his father's farm on the Fowler estate, county Meath; and whether, seeing that this land is unoccupied and that Mr. Duffy is compelled to support a young family by working as a common labourer, steps will be taken immediately to have him reinstated in his father's holding?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLMichael Duffy's application will be considered by the Estates Commissioners when they are dealing in order of priority with the Fowler Estate, which is pending before them for sale under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked whether James Stubs, evicted tenant, county Cavan, has yet been reinstated; if not, will he say what is the cause of the delay and when his case will have attention?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners do not appear to have received any application for reinstatement in this case.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether the application of Mrs. Catherine Price, widow, for reinstatement in a holding, from which she with her late husband and children were evicted, on the estate of Mr. E. C. Walshe, Castlehill, Crossmolina, county Mayo, has been refused by the Estates Commissioners, on the grounds that the application was not received within the specified time; and, if so, whether, having regard to the circumstances of the widow and family, the Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board will provide her with a suitable holding?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received in March last an application from Mrs. Catherine Price for reinstatement in a holding which she states was formerly occupied by her late husband on the Walsh Estate county Mayo. As her application was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, it cannot be dealt with under the provisions of that Act. This estate has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and, if they become owners, the case of Mrs. Catherine Price will be considered, provided the holding from which she was evicted is untenanted.