§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Shaen Carter has, as a means of forcing his tenants at Knockmant, Westmeath, to sign purchase agreements, served civil bills upon some of them for rents never demanded in the ordinary way; whether he is aware that this duress is rendered acute by the departmental restrictions which have made the sale of livestock impossible in that district; whether in these circumstances arrangements will be made that any decrees obtained on technical grounds shall not be enforced this season; and whether the Estates Commissioners will relieve the situation by requiring this vendor to sell his estate to them in its entirety under Section 6 of the Act of 1903, in accordance with his written undertaking to the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1909, and will be dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners have no information as to any legal proceedings which the owner may have instituted for the recovery of rents due by the tenants who have not signed purchase agreements, nor have they any power to interfere in the matter. The reply to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary in what order of priority estates are dealt with which are sold under Section 6 of the Land Act of 1903; and by what time the Estates Commissioners expect to be able to deal with the Talbot estate, Westmeath?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe order of priority in which estates the subject of proceedings for sale under the Irish Land Acts, 1903–09, are dealt with is that prescribed by the Regulations made on 28th March, 1911, under Section 23 (8) of the Act of 1903, and 2203W Section 4 of the Act of 1909. The Estates Commissioners hope to be in a position to issue at an early date their proposal to purchase the estate referred to in the second paragraph of the question.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any further steps have been taken to acquire the King-Harman estate, at Ballinamuck and Newtowncashel, county Longford, respectively, now that the trouble about the bogs on these properties has been satisfactorily arranged?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that their formal proposal for the purchase of this estate has now been issued.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked when the tenants on the J. W. Bond estate, at Farragh, Rhyne, Drumhaughly, and Mucknagh may expect their vesting orders; whether any steps have yet been taken to secure the untenanted lands of Rhyne for sub-division amongst the uneconomic holdings in the district; and when this matter may be expected to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners hope to be able to deal with the tenanted lands which are the subject of direct sale proceedings at an early date. The untenanted land which is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Commissioners will be dealt with as soon as practicable in order of priority.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any application to the Estates Commissioners has been received from Daniel Murtagh, of Esker, a tenant on the Ireland estate, county Longford, for a grant to enable him to rebuild his house, which had been levelled after an eviction in 1894; and whether, as this is essentially a congested area, this man's prayer will be granted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe application has teen received, and will be considered by the Estates Commissioners.
Dr. ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Mill Farm and Clonmacawn, in the parish of Lorrha, county Tipperary, are about to be offered for sale by the representatives of Mr. W. T Trench; and will the Estates Commissioners take steps to purchase these farms for distribution among the uneconomic holders in the parish?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners cannot identify these lands as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts. If proceedings for their sale to the Commissioners are instituted by the owner, they will be dealt with by the Commissioners in order of priority.