§ MR. SEXTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in view of the grave intelligence received from the Western Isles of Scotland, concerning the excited state of feeling among the crofters, and the occurrence of collisions between the crofters and the police, the Government have taken any steps, or will take any 1094 steps, before permitting the employment of Military force, to inform themselves whether the existing state of affairs is due to any difficulties unjustly thrown in the way of the crofters in their efforts to secure by their labour the means of subsistence for their families and themselves; whether the Government, before sanctioning a resort to extreme measures, will apply their good offices to endeavour to induce the landlords to come to friendly terms with their tenants; and, whether the Government, with a view to allay the excitement now prevailing in the Western Isles, will hold the prospect of introducing in the coming Session of Parliament, for the benefit of poor tenants in the Highlands, a Bill on the lines of the Irish Land Act of 1881, or some such measure of practical remedial legislation? He also asked whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman had any information that a deputation representing 26,000 men of the Island of Lewis was at Stornoway awaiting for the answer to that Question?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, he had no such information as was referred to in the last part of the Question; but it only showed the seriousness of the answer he had to give on that matter. He was not aware that there was any further information on the subject than was contained in the voluminous Report of the Royal Commission. He had already stated that the Government had under their consideration what should be done in consequence of that Report; but he should act improperly if he for one moment countenanced the idea that anything was to be conceded to the violation of law and order. The first and unconditional duty of the Government was to see that order was maintained, and the law observed. It was impossible at this moment to set forth what legislation the Government might think fit to propose; and certainly no such announcement could be made as a condition on which the maintenance of order could depend.
§ MR. MACFARLANEasked whether, after the Franchise Bill had been disposed of, legislation on this subject would be taken up? He did not ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to tell them what legislation would be proposed; but would there be any legislation, and when? He thought if the 1095 Government would make a statement to that effect the agitation would subside at once.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI am very glad to hear that from the hon. Member; because I have already stated last Session, and I have no objection again to state, that the Government having appointed a Commission, and they having made an important Report, they will feel themselves bound to take action upon that Report.