§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Duke of Manchester estate, the Duane estate, the Browne estate, the Freer estate, the Tullochs estate, the Twining estate, and the Hazell estate have been offered for sale, and, if not, will he state whether any pressure within the law can be brought to bear on those landlords who refuse to sell, and upon the Congested Districts Board if they refuse to purchase; and whether he is aware that there is a growing discontent among the tenants of these and other estates in Connemara because of the delay in the purchase of estates, and that if this delay is continued the tenants may be tempted to take the law into their own hands by refusing to pay rents and by the driving of cattle?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative in the cases of all the estates mentioned, save that of A. Hazell, who has been approached by the Congested Districts Board, but has not yet offered his estate for sale. The Board have powers of compulsory acquisition in certain circumstances, but have, I am given to understand, no immediate intention of exercising them in Connemara, where most of the lands have been either purchased or have been the subjects of agreements for purchase. They will certainly not accelerate the acquisition of estates where illegal combination against the payment of rent or intimidation in any form prevails.