§ MR. MACFARLANEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the state of feeling existing amongst the Crofters in the Island of Skye; and, if he proposes to ascertain, by the appointment of a Commission, or by any other means, the condition and grievances of the Crofters in that Island, the other Western Islands, and the Orkney and Shetland groups?
MR. GLADSTONESir, this is a Question of a serious nature, and I do not feel that I could answer it advantageously in the form of a reply to a Question. I think that a Notice has been given upon the subject, in which it will be raised in more convenient form; and the Government will, before that Notice comes on, carefully consider the whole matter, and give Parliament the view we take.
§ MR. MACFARLANEasked whether there was a Notice on the Paper on the subject?
§ Subsequently—
MR. DICK-PEDDIEasked the Prime Minister, Whether, considering the importance of the question, and the state of matters in Skye, and considering the very great difficulty which private Members had for bringing matters under debate, the Government would afford any facilities for bringing on that question?
MR. GLADSTONESir, if it were in my power to add to the manufactures of this country, I would, in the first place, add the manufacture of time. Unfortunately, it is not in my power. While I fully admit, and much regret, the difficulty of private Members, yet I do not think any impartial man will say the difficulties of the Government are less with respect to time than those of private Members. I heartily wish I could give any such assistance; but it is not in my power.
§ MR. MACFARLANEsaid, with reference to the Prime Minister's answer, that the Motion on the subject which stood on the Paper had no day fixed for its discussion. As the Government professed to attach so much importance to the question, might he ask if it were necessary for them to wait until the 1676 question had been discussed in the House before taking steps to deal with it?