§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the Report of the Morayshire Farmers' Club, dated March 9, 1888, stating that an average reduction of 33 per cent is necessary, owing to the fall in agricultural produce, on all rents fixed within the past 13 years; and calling attention to the probable ruin of present occupiers, whose proprietors decline either to give substantial abatements of rent or a fair re-adjustment of contract; and, whether, having regard to the fact that some Scotch proprietors have made no reduction, and many only small ones, the Government propose to introduce legislation on the subject?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The Government greatly regret that the prevailing depression has so seriously affected the agricultural tenants in Morayshire as well as in other parts of Scotland. The depression, however, has affected not only the occupiers, but also the proprietors of the land; and the Government are unable to promise legislation in the direction indicated by the hon. Member.