§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Estates Commissioners have received several petitions, influentially signed by several Members of Parliament, clergymen, and representative men of different counties, praying that they may grant to Lawrence Hughes, at present residing in Drumlish, county Longford, an equivalent holding in any part of Ireland to the holding he was evicted from in county Cavan, Derrycassan townland; 694W whether he is aware that this man is in distress, having been evicted from a holding which cost him £800; will he now say what steps the Commissioners propose to take to indemnify this evicted tenant; whether he is aware that this man has been a pioneer in the growth of foodstuffs for over twenty years, an exhibitor and a winner of farm produce at Irish and English shows, and has been thanked by the Department of Agriculture on 3rd November, 1906, for the crop and manner of treatment he turned out that year, and by the Board of Ariculture and Fisheries on 31st October, 1913, for the interest he manifested in turning out of the land what it was capable of yielding at Kempshot, Basingstoke; and whether, in the public interest, this man will be given a farm?
Mr. SAMUELThe Estates Commissioners have received a number of communications in reference to the application of Lawrence Hughes. The Commissioners have no information as to the present condition of this man or of the other particulars quoted in the question, but they inquired very fully into his application and in the exercise of the discretion vested in them they have decided not to allot him any land, and he has been go informed on several occasions.