§ MR. MACFARLANEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to a statement in the newspapers, that seventy Glendale Crofters have been served, or are about to be served, with notices of eviction; and, if this statement is correct, whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent the removal of the people pending an inquiry into their case by the Royal Commission?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, I have no knowledge of the details to which the first part of the Question of the hon. Member alludes; and with regard to the second part, the hon. Gentleman must be aware that I have no power to suspend the operations of the law. It would, moreover, be a very bad 298 thing if we thought that the appointment of an impartial inquiry should offer any justification or excuse for the non-observance of the law. On the contrary, the existence of such an inquiry ought rather to encourage people to be patient, and to observe the law.