IRISH AGRARIAN TENL'l 97 



sed in 1887 had introduced some modifica- 

 nt<> the system. This m \vas 



sorbed. The success of the Ashbournc 

 Acts led at 1 ie great Land Act of 1891. 



Under tin- Ac t, a sum of 33,000,000 was to 

 be advanced. The reason for cho 

 sum was that the grants made by the cent 



ment to tlu- Irish Unions amounted to 

 thirtieth part of it; and therefore, by holding 

 back these grants, the Government could com- 

 pensate r i case the sums payable for 

 <rest and sinking fund did not come in in due- 

 course. The maximum of 33,000,000 was 

 elastic figure, inasmuch as each payment 

 which was received under the Act made possible 

 advance of a corresponding sum. 1 The 

 reserve of one-fifth of the purchase money, a 

 feature introduced by the Ashbourne Act, 

 was retained. A further reserve against non- 

 payment of the instalments was created by 

 holding back for five years certain new grants 

 of the Imperial Government to local bodies, 

 amounting to 40,000 a year. Furthermore, it 

 d that the tenant should pay at least 

 80 per cent, of his e rent in the form of 

 interest and sinking fund. If his instalments 

 came to more, the difference was retained by 

 Government for five Four per cent, was 

 to be paid for a term of forty-nine years, of which 

 2} were supposed to be interest and the rest 

 king fund; J per cent, however Hotted 



1 Shaw-Lefcvrc, p. 143. 



H 



