HC Deb 19 March 1883 vol 277 cc796-7
MR. MACFARLANE

asked the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, If his attention has been called to the sentence passed upon the three Glendale Crofters who had voluntarily surrendered themselves to answer the charge made against them; and, if, in consideration of the fact of their voluntary surrender, and that their offence arose more from ignorance than deliberate resistance to the Law, he will remit the whole, or at least a portion, of the sentence of two months' imprisonment to which they have been sentenced?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

As a matter of law, Sir, I have frequently stated in this House that, this being contempt of the orders of a Court, I have no authority to remit the sentence. I do not wish, however, to rest upon that alone. If I had such authority, I should not think it right to interfere with a sentence pronounced by a Court to vindicate the law from what was pronounced to be a deliberate and organized com- bination to resist the law. I may, perhaps, be allowed to state what I have been frequently asked, and could not answer. The Royal Commission to inquire into the condition of the crofters and cottars has now been sanctioned by Her Majesty; and, with the permission of the House, I will mention the names of the Commissioners. The Chairman will be Lord Napier and Ettrick; and the other Members will be Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, of Gairloch; Mr. Donald Cameron, of Lochiel; Mr. C. E. Mackintosh, M.P.; Sheriff Nicolson, of Kirkcudbright, and Professor MacKinnon. Mr. Malcolm McNeill, who recently visited Skye for the purpose of inquiring into the question, will be the Secretary. The terms of the Commission will be— To inquire into the condition of the crofters and cottars in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and all matters affecting the same or relating thereto, and to report thereon.

MR. MACFARLANE

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether the county of Caithness will be included in the designation "Highlands and Islands?"

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I have given some consideration to that matter, and I thought it better that the term should be as general as possible, leaving it as largely as possible to the discretion of the Commissioners as to what places they thought should be properly and fitly inquired into.