§ Mr. DORISasked whether, having regard to the fact that the offer made by the Congested Districts Board for the congested estate of the Misses Hunter, in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo, was refused, the Board will now proceed to acquire the estate under the compulsory clauses of the Land Act of 1909?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Congested Districts Board have been obliged to suspend for a time negotiations for the purchase of further estates, and they cannot take any steps with a view to the compulsory acquisition of the property referred to at present.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Phibbs Irwin estate (in Lunacy) was, before the War, valued by engineers of the Congested Districts Board with a view to purchase; have all the adjoining estates been acquired by the Board; and, having regard to the congestion on the Phibbs Irwin estate and the poverty and discontent amongst the tenants, will he advise the Board to purchase the estate without further delay?
§ Mr. DUKEThe estate referred to was valued before the War, and the Congested Districts Board made an, offer which was not accepted. The Board have purchased a large number of estates in the neighbourhood of this property, but they have been obliged to suspend for a time negotiations238W for the purchase of further estates, and they cannot at present take steps with a view to acquiring the property.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Mr. John Duncan has refused to sell to the Congested Districts Board his small congested estate in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo; if this property was purchased by the Land Commission from a former owner so far back as 1906, after which the tenants paid only interest on the purchase money in lieu of rent until the Land Commission annulled the sale and the tenants had to resume payment of the old rents, which were considerably in excess of the interest referred to; and, having regard to all the facts of this case, whether he will advise the Board to proceed to acquire the estate compulsorily?
§ Mr. DUKEMr. John Duncan did not refuse to offer his estate for sale to the Congested Districts Board, but the map and other documents to enable the Board to consider the question of purchase were not lodged. The estate was not purchased by the Land Commission. Agreements for a direct sale under the Land Act of 1903 were lodged, but after the inspection of the estate the Estates Commissioners decided that they could not declare the property an estate for the purposes of sale. The tenants paid interest on the purchase prices set out in the agreements until the agreements were dismissed, after which they became liable for their former rents. The Congested Districts Board have been obliged to suspend negotiations for the purchase of further estates, and they cannot at present take any steps with a view to the compulsory acquisition of the property.
§ Mr. FITZPATRICKasked what steps the Estates Commissioners are taking to acquire the late Mr. A. Owen's estate at Insfarney, Rathdowney, for distribution amongst uneconomic holders in that district?
§ Mr. DUKEIf the hon. Member refers to the Owen Estate, which comprises the lands of Ballyliinode and Birdwell Big, near Rathdowney, the Estates Commissioners have acquired this estate, and undertakings have been signed by the tenants for the purchase of their holdings, and the allottees of untenanted lands have been placed in possession of their allotments.