asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether the Land Commission have inspected, with a view to acquisition, the lands owned by Miss Watson, at Ballyquirke, Lorrha, Tipperary, and if not, whether he will have them inspected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Co. Tipperary Lands.
The lands referred to have been purchased under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Commissioners do not propose to acquire them.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he can now state when the Vaughan Estate, Golden Grove, Roscrea, will be divided.
The Land Commission are not in a position to say when the lands referred to, if acquired, will be divided.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether the Land Commission have inspected the estate of the Misses Smithwick, Youghal, Arra, Nenagh; whether they have decided to acquire the estate; and, if so, when it will be divided.
The Land Commission, after having the lands inspected, have decided to take no action with regard to their acquisition.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary state why? Did they give the reasons?
For one reason, because of certain labour troubles in the area; also these ladies are very, very old; they have only a life interest in the lands, and, in the normal course of things, it is likely that the lands will come into the hands of the Land Commission during the next few years. At the present time they are giving a good deal of employment on these lands, and the Land Commission, after giving full consideration to all the facts and circumstances of the case, decided that for the present it would not be advisable to interfere with the land.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary state what he means by labour troubles? I am not aware that there is any labour trouble.
This is an extract from an inspector's report:—
"In my opinion the lands are within the exception in Section 24 (2); they employ a steward and 6 men. After the sale of Cloneygowney the owners tried to dispense with the services of some of the men; the men under notice compelled the indoor servants to give notice, and they threatened to boycott the old ladies. No tillage is done outside the garden. Apart from the lands coming within the exceptions, if the Land Commission acquired any portion of these lands, the labourers who would lose their employment, or rather sinecures, and who possess no means, would expect to get parcels."
I might say that from my information that is a very false statement. There is no foundation whatever for it.
The statement was made by an inspector, and subsequently verified by the Commissioners.
It is false.