§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the offer of Mr. M'Cullach, tenant, to sell his farms in the Coole rural district, Westmeath, for relief of the congestion there and the refusal of the landlord, Mr. Gradwell, to co-operate by selling the fee simple, also of the offer of Colonel Kavanagh, landlord of Kilmore grass farm in the same district, to sell the fee. simple for a like purpose, and the refusal of the non-resident tenant, Mr. Wakefield, to cooperate by selling his interest; these being the sort of cases for dealing with which the Land Act of 1909 gives the Estates Commissioners compulsory powers, whether those powers will be exercised in these cases; and, if not, will he state the reason?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the first case referred to, the owner has intimated his willingness to consider the question of his acquiring the tenant's interest so as to be able to sell the lands as untenanted land to the Estates Commissioners, and they are having an inspection made with a view to estimating the sum they could offer if the lands were sold to them as untenanted land. In the second case referred to, the Commissioners decided that having regard to security they could not advance a sum which would be sufficient to meet the prices required by both owner and tenant for their respective interests. The Commissioners have no power in either of these cases to acquire the lands compulsorily.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked why the Taughmon portion of the Wilson Hospital Estate in Westmeath remains unvested so long after other portions have been vested; and when will those tenant purchasers be relieved of 1003W the etxra burden of interest by the vesting of their holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 26th July last, to which I have nothing to add at present.