asked the Minister for Lands, since the coming into operation of the Land Act, 1933, how many applications have been received for the reduction of annuities under Section 37 of that Act; in how many of these cases has relief been granted.
Written Answers. - Reduction of Land Annuities.
The total number of cases in which relief has been granted by way of reduction of annuities under the provisions of Section 37 of the Land Act, 1933, is 35. The total number of applications made to the Land Commission for relief under this section is not available, as no general record of such applications has been kept by the Land Commission, each case being treated separately on its merits by reference to the various branches dealing with tenanted land, untenanted land, Congested Districts Board estates, estates commissioner's estates and holdings vested under the older Land Acts. Section 37, Land Act, 1933. does not provide for the making of applications or petitions, but simply empowers the Land Commission to apportion the annuities on submerged lands. In order to ascertain the figure which the Deputy desires, it would be necessary to examine a large number of files scattered among the various branches of the Land Commission, and in present circumstances no staff is available for such special work.