§ Mr. GRAHAMasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a memorial from the residents of Croghan, King's County, asking his intervention to enable twenty small farmers and labourers in the district to carry through the sale to them of 470 acres of land for cultivation into effect; whether he is aware that these twenty persons have come to an agreement for the purchase of the said lands with the occupier, who has so far let the lands for grazing each year on the eleven-months' system; and, seeing that it is not in the interests of the production of food for the people in the present circumstances that this land is left unavailable for cultivation, and that the only reason given by the agent for the landlord in exercising pre-emption is that it is much easier to collect from one tenant than from twenty, whether he intends to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. DUKEI have received the memorial referred to by the hon. Member. I learn, however, that the Land Commission Court have decided, in pursuance of Section 1 (6) of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, that the grounds on which the landlord has refused to accept the proposed purchasers as tenants are reasonable, and it is not in my power to take any action in the matter.