§ MR. BIGGARasked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been, called to a letter which appeared recently in The Echo newspaper anent two cases of alleged boycotting in South Uist; whether it is true that a factor there warned four crofters who travelled twenty miles to an auction sale, not to purchase, as he (the factor) had a black mark against them, and whether the factor in question forbade the vendors to sell to the crofters; whether these four men have been served with notices of eviction for giving evidence before the Royal Commission, and for joining the Highland Land Law Reform Association; whether a tacksman in South Uist refused permission to a tenant to go to the fishing, that he might earn three pounds of rent arrear, for his having joined said Association; and, whether, if these charges be true, the Government will at once legislate for the suppression of such intimidation?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)I have not seen the letter referred to; but since the Question was put upon the Paper I have made such inquiry as time permitted in regard to the matters set out in it. The result of that inquiry has been to negative all the three allegations or suggestions which it contains. It is true that notices of removal have been served upon three crofters in South Uist; but this was in consequence of their being largely in. arrear with their rents, and of their having boon guilty of various violent or menacing acts; and it is also the case that a similar notice was served upon a squatter in consequence of his having taken forcible possession of an island. None of these men had given evidence before the Royal Commission.