asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he has decided to fix the "appointed" day for the vesting in the tenants of all judicial holdings purchased under the Land Act, 1923.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vesting Under Land Act, 1923.
The question appears to be based on the misapprehension, which is rather general, that the vesting of lands in the tenants under the Land Acts, 1923-27, can be accomplished automatically by the mere fixing of the appointed day. It should be understood that estates have to be individually dealt with by the Land Commission in their order of priority as determined by the dates on which the prescribed schedule of particulars is lodged and the appointed day is fixed in respect of each estate, according as the various matters arising on the sale of the estate are disposed of. Before any holdings can be vested in the tenants, the correct particulars thereof must be ascertained and the boundaries surveyed, and matters arising on surveyors' and inspectors' reports must be dealt with and Commissioners' rulings discharged. This entails a considerable amount of expert clerical and technical work, and the vesting of the holdings is being proceeded with as expeditiously as the nature and complexity of the matters involved permit.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in the great majority of judicial holdings which were purchased under the Act of 1923 tenants were already enjoying voluntary reductions of 35 per cent., and that this Compulsory Landlords' Bill has inflicted on these tenants an increase of ten per cent. on their land? In view of these facts, will the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to have these lands immediately vested?
These tenants already got a reduction of 25 per cent. Each estate is dealt with in the order in which the schedule of particulars is lodged, and everything possible is being done to expedite vesting.
The tenants received a voluntary reduction of 35 per cent., and the Bill of 1923 was introduced, under which they were compelled to purchase, and under which they received only a reduction of 25 per cent., which corresponds to an increase of ten per cent. In view of the unsatisfactory reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary, I desire to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider the advisability of introducing amending legislation similar to the amending Act in Northern Ireland by which the tenants get the benefit of the total reduction immediately, pending vesting?
It is quite obvious that the Deputy has not read the Northern Ireland Land Act, or he would not make such a foolish statement.
It is quite obvious that he has.