§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been called to the case of an agent of the Royal Liver Friendly Society, now deceased, who, during his lifetime, and whilst in receipt of a salary from the Society of £11 per week, levied from four collectors of the Society sums amounting in the aggregate to £2,210; whether a sum amounting to £1 per week per collector was paid to the heirs of the said agent under threats of instant dismissal; whether, on certain members of the Society, including the Local Board in Glasgow, remonstrating with the central Board of Management in Liverpool, on the contravention of the Rules of the Society 679 and injustice to the collectors, the four collectors referred to were summarily dismissed, though some of them had been in the service of the Society for 15 years; and, whether he will order a thorough and impartial investigation into the whole case, with a view to justice being done?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The matters referred to relates to a Society the headquarters of which are in England, and I have no authority to interfere with its proceedings unless crime is alleged. No charge of any kind has been laid before me for investigation. If any civil wrong has been done, a Civil Law Court, and not the Criminal Authorities, should be applied to.