§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the following statement made by Professor Ewart, a member of the Scotch Fishery Board, at Edinburgh, on 24th March:—
Since the Board had struggled into existence, it had been largely occupied in saying to demands made upon it, that it had no power or no money. He had been endeavouring for five long years to discover whether the Board had intended to be administrative or initiatory and practical; whether to administer the Fishery Laws or to improve the industry and its means of production. If it was only ordinary routine that the Board was to discharge, it might at once cease to exist;whether the views above expressed are shared by other members of the Board; and, whether the Government will introduce a measure for the purpose of placing the Scotch Fishery Board on a satisfactory basis, and enable it to have effective powers for the improvement and development of the fishing industry?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The quotation in the Question is substantially correct, and it is believed other members of the Board concur in the statements contained in it. Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to make any statement as to future policy; but the communications lately received are engaging their serious attention.