§ Mr. HAZLETONasked whether the Congested Districts Board have made an offer for the purchase of the estate of Cecil R. Henry, Crumlin, Ballyglunin, county Galway; and, if so, whether it has been accepted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for purchase of the estate referred to, but they expect to do so shortly.
§ Mr. HAZLETONasked on what grounds the Estates Commissioners have come to the decision not to reinstate Mrs. Catherine Kelly as an evicted tenant on a new holding, seeing that her father was evicted from the townland of Kilmacanelly, county Galway, that her claim was lodged in due time, and that the facts of the case disclose Mrs. Kelly's claim as genuine and deserving; and whether, in view of the character of this case and the feeling that exists that it should be settled, the Commissioners will reconsider it and give this woman a holding of land in some part of the county Galway?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe granting or refusing of applications from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants or the representatives of evicted tenants is a matter within the discretion of the Estates Commissioners, who have decided, after inquiry, not to provide Mrs. Kelly with a new farm in lieu of the farm formerly occupied by her father, John Jennings, deceased. 1741W They are not prepared to reopen the matter or to state the grounds of their decisions in such cases.
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked how many tenants in the province of Connaught purchased by proceedings initiated under the Acts of 1903 and 1909, respectively, specifying how many in each category purchased directly from the landlords, how many through the Estates Commissioners, and how many through the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe number of tenants in the province of Connaught in whose cases purchase agreements in direct sales under the Acts of 1903 and 1909, respectively, have been lodged in the Land Commission, and also the number of tenants (including estimated number of purchasers of new farms) on estates and untenanted land in that province acquired by the Land Commission and the Congested Districts Board under those Acts, is as follows:—
Act of 1903. Act of 1909. Direct sales through Land Commission 25,816 1,816 Estates acquired by Land Commission for purposes of resale 11,776 102 Estates acquired by Congested Districts Board for purposes of resale 10,728 1,680 In addition, 3,361 holdings situate on estates acquired by the Congested Districts Board prior to the Act of 1903 have been vested in tenant purchasers at 3¼ per cent. annuities under that Act. Since the passing of the Act of 1909 no congested estate situate in the congested districts counties can be sold under the Land Purchase Acts without the consent of the Congested Districts Board to persons other than the Board, and the Land Commission cannot enter into an agreement for the purchase of any land in a congested districts county without the consent of the Board. Proceedings are at present pending before the Land Commission for the sale to them of lands in Connaught on which it is estimated there will be on resale 2,450 tenants at 3¼ per cent. annuities under the Act of 1903, and 670 tenants at 3½ per cent. annuities under the Act of 1909, and the Congested Districts Board are in negotiation for the purchase of lands 1742W in that province on which it is estimated there will be on resale 1,500 tenants at 3¼ per cent. annuities under the Act of 1903, and 25,200 tenants at 3½ per cent. annuities under the Act of 1909.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked (1) what area of land in the district controlled by the Congested Districts Board has been purchased; and how much remains to be purchased; and (2) what area of land already purchased by the Congested Districts Board has been purchased voluntarily and compulsorily, respectively?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe total area of land purchased or agreed to be purchased by the Congested Districts Board is 1,072,739 acres. These figures include 16,346 acres in respect of which final offers under the Compulsory Clause of the Irish Land Act, 1909, were issued and accepted. The only estimate of unpurchased land which has been prepared will be found in Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 6130, of 1912, to which I would refer the hon. Member.
§ Sir PHILIP SASSOONasked what amount has been advanced in stock each year under the Irish Land Act, 1909, to the Congested Districts Board for land purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe amount of Guaranteed Land Stock advanced under the Irish Land Act, 1909, to the Board for land purchase is £299,350, made up as follows:—
Year to 31st March, 1910 Nil. Year to 31st March, 1911 £26,013 Year to 31st March, 1912 194,563 1st April, 1912, to 7th November, 1912 78,774 Total £299,350
§ Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked what period it is estimated will be required under the existing law to work off the block of purchase agreements awaiting advances in cash, partly cash and partly stock, and stock?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners hope to deal with the pending purchase agreements on the estates which are at present on the "part money, part stock" and "all stock" registers of direct sales under the Irish Land Act, 1903, during the current financial year and the year following. They are not at present in a position to say when it will be possible to deal with the pending agreements 1743W in all the estates at present on the "all cash" register of direct sales. This will depend not only on the character of the estate and such questions as to title and other matters as may arise, but also on the amount of cash which may be available for land purchase in each year and on the number of vendors who may elect under Section 3 (2) of the Act of 1909 to accept payment either partly or wholly in stock.
§ Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked what amount has been advanced in cash each year under the Irish Land Act, 1909, to the Congested Districts Board for land purchase under the compulsory Clauses of that Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe amount advanced in cash under the Irish Land Act, 1909, to the Congested Districts Board for land purchase under the compulsory Clauses of the Act is as follows:—
Year ended 31st March, 1912 £15,017 From 1st April, 1912, to 9th November, 1912 26,080 Total £41,097 In addition to the above amounts, final offers under the compulsory Clauses of the Act amounting to £62,916 have been issued and accepted by the owners.
§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked whether the Estates Commissioners have refused to act upon requisitions of the Congested Districts Board calling upon them to take steps to acquire estates or untenanted land compulsorily as provided by Part IV, of the Land Act, 1909, or required changes to be made in the terms of the requisition; and, if so, upon what occasions and in reference to what estates?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply is in the negative.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked how long it is estimated to be before the Congested Districts Board will have completed the purchase of estates within its area, having regard to the present rate of progress and the proportion of voluntary and compulsory sales?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that it would be quite impossible to form an accurate estimate at present as to the probable date of the completion of the Board's work under the Land Purchase Acts.