§ MR. BAXTERasked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been called to the serious evils caused by Hiring Fairs or Feeing Markets in Scotland; and if he will consider, during the' Recess, the possibility of remedying them, by altering the Law relative to half-yearly engagements or otherwise?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. WATSON), in reply, said, that some years ago his attention had been called to the fact that the meeting of parties at those fairs had often led to excessive social indulgence, and also to immorality, and he should be most happy to consider the subject. But, at the same time, he must intimate that he had the greatest doubt whether the evils referred to in the Question would ever be cured by legislation. The subject was an exceedingly difficult one, because it was by those meetings that agricultural labourers were able to regulate the labour market in their districts, and the very greatest care was required in dealing with anything which so nearly affected the relations between the employers and the employed.