§ MR. BIGGARasked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been drawn to the fact that Mr. D. G. Ross, Provost of Dingwall, has been convicted and fined £1, with £3 3s. expenses, for travelling on a Railway without a ticket; and, whether, under the circumstances, he should not be removed from the magisterial bench?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)On inquiry, I find that in 1877 Mr. Ross, now Provost of Dingwall, pleaded guilty to a charge of travelling on a railway without a ticket, and that he was fined in the sum mentioned in the Question. It appears that he had had a season ticket, which had shortly before expired, and it was stated on his behalf that on the occasion referred to he had no intention to defraud. Since this occurrence Mr. Ross has been elected a member of the Town Council by his fellow-townsmen, and he has been by the Town Council unanimously elected Provost. The Government do not intend, therefore, to take any steps in the matter.