§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will give further consideration to the case of the sub-town tenants of Middletown, county Armagh, who desire to purchase their holdings under the Land Purchase Acts; if he is aware that in the town of Athenry weekly tenants and sub-tenants were afforded facilities for purchasing their holdings; if he will state what valid reason exists for refusing similar advantages to the town tenants of Middletown; if he is aware that in the majority of cases at Middletown the premises in the occupation of the sub-tenants are substantial buildings and afford ample security for an advance, and that in other cases the premises might be put into such a condition as would make them good security; if he will state whether, in the case of town holdings on the Stearne Estate, held direct from the landlord, the tenants provided the purchase-money in cash, and, it not, whether these holdings compare in point of security for the advance with other town holdings; if the Land Commission offered to exercise their powers under Section 15 of the Act of 1903, which enables them to deem a sub-tenant a direct tenant on the terms of the tenant producing the purchase-money in cash; and if, pending the further consideration of this matter, the Estates Commissioners will be requested to abstain from causing holdings to be vested in middle landlords, who are willing to co-operate with the sub-tenants in securing equal treatment with themselves?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Estates Commissioners have further considered the cases of the sub-tenants of premises in that portion of the town of Middletown which is included in the portion of the Stearne estate pur454W chased by the Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, and they do not consider that the premises held by the subtenants afford ample security for advances. The advances sanctioned in the case of direct tenants of holdings which included premises in Middletown were those for which the Commissioners considered the holdings provided security. Under Section 15 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, the Commissioners decided not to deem sub-tenants who held as weekly or monthly tenants direct tenants, but if the sub-tenants can arrange to purchase the premises in their occupation from their direct landlords on terms which can be approved by the Commissioners, and if they are prepared to lodge the purchase money in cash, the Commissioners will vest the premises in. the purchasers. If the three yearly sub-tenants also can arrange to purchase the premises in their occupation from their direct landlords, the Commissioners will consider what advances, if any, could be made to them, the balance of the purchase-money to be lodged in cash by the purchasers. Advances were not made to weekly or monthly tenants in the town of Athenry.