Mr. Wyndham stated as first and most important of the
pro- visions of the Bill that " within certain limits and under certain conditions the Government is prepared throughout Ireland to take over the whole or as much of his estate as an owner wishes to sell," to effect any improvements, amalgama- tions, or enlargements necessary, and to resell to tenants. A landlord may apply to the Land Commission for an estimate at which a sale would be sanctioned. If he is satisfied, next there has to be obtained the assent of three-fourths of the tenants to purchase their holdings, the estate eventually becoming vested in the Commission. Further, in order that landlords may be induced to live on their demesnes, they are to be allowed to buy back a part of their land. As to the proving of title, henceforward the landlord who has for six years been in receipt of rents may by that title alone sell to the Land Commission, while immediately upon signing the purchase agreement he will receive 4 per cent. on the, agreed price. The Bill provides various other inducements to pur- chase, one important provision being that an application from either landlord or tenant for a fair rent may be met by the other party by a proposal for sale. We cannot go into details, but complicated as the new provisions are, they appear likely to simplify the machinery of purchase. The Bill as a whole was well received on both sides of the House.
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