IRISH LAND PURCHASE ACTS

New Zealand Tablet, 6 October 1910, Page 1615

IRISH LAND PURCHASE ACTS

ANNUITIES PROMPTLY PAID The report of the Irish Land Commission (says a writer in the Irish News) is particularly interesting in the proof it contains for matters of considerable bearing on the present and future of land purchase in Ireland. Not the least important of the facts which emerge from a collection of figures of little meaning to the average city reader is the confirmation of our old contention that the Irish peasant proprietor, no matter what his difficulties, will keep his farm clear from the taint of arrears as long as he can keep his head financially above water at all. It was a favorite suggestion of opponents of land purchase that the State was not justified in trusting to the promise of a body of men whose integrity, it was fatuously assumed, had been besmirched by their action during the land war. The same men who took part in the No-Rent campaign or their sons have given new evidence that, treated on the elementary principles of fair play, they are as honest as the day. Given half a chance to struggle out of the difficulties natural to new and risky conditions, the exceptional cases which prove the rule would be amongst the most striking instances of honor on the part of a freshlyfreed peasantry that ever were to the credit of a nation. On the Ist November last the total amount payable in respect of advances under the Purchase Act of 1885 for the annuities which had then become due, including arrears unpaid on that date, was £356,900, payable by 25,359 payers. Of this amount £344,030 had been paid on 31st March, 1910, by 23,987 payers, leaving £12,870 due by 1372 purchasers. Of this sum £1544 was due by 150 persons who owed more than one instalment. The £12,870 in arrear on the 31st March has been reduced to £4020 due by 370 purchasers on August 1. The yearly annuities payable by 25,347 purchasers under the Act of 1885 have matured for decennial revision pursuant to section 25 of the Land Act of 1896. With regard to the payment of annuities payable under the Purchase of Land Act, 1891, the amount receivable on the Ist November last, from 46,908 payers, was £505,536, as compared with 46,848 payers, and £512,457 payable on Ist November, 1908. • Of this £492,866 had been paid on 31st March last, leaving £12,670 due by 1714 purchasers. Of this sum £3143 was due by 210 payers, who owed more than one instalment. The £12,670" in arrears on the 31st March has been reduced to £3083 due by 308 payers. The holdings of 203 purchasers under the Land Purchase Acts who were in default in payment of their instalments were advertised for sale during the. year. In 142 of such cases the sales were withdrawn, the arrears having been paid; in 41 cases the holdings were sold to ordinary purchasers, and in 20 cases where there was no bidding at the sale the Land Commission have instituted proceedings to take possession of the holdings pending re-sale.