§ MR. WEIR (ROSS and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, Bart., Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Ross and Cromarty, evicted Widow Urquhart from her holding at Luibmore, Achnasheen, Ross-shire, on 12th June last, because she failed to intimate the will of her late husband, Colin Urquhart, to Sir Kenneth Mackenzie within 21 days of his decease; whether he is aware that the landlord's factor warned the people neither to give her food nor shelter, thus compelling her to remain in the open with nothing but a table to shelter her; whether he is also aware that the late Colin Urquhart's house was built entirely at his own cost, and that the land was also taken in from the moor by him without any pecuniary help from his landlord; and whether Her Majesty's Government will, with a view of preventing a repetition of such evictions, take steps to extend the period during which notice of bequest must be given to landlords acting under the Crofters' Act of 1886?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThis is a matter with regard to which my hon. Friend has received a long and detailed communication from the Lord Advocate, and I could not explain the case with fairness to all concerned under a quarter of an hour. I may shortly answer that the widow Urquhart, who was a second wife of the deceased Crofter, had the holding left her by will, but failed to give notice within 33 days of the legal 21 days within which notice has to be given. The landlord meanwhile arranged with the eldest son of the deceased, who is the heir-at-law, and the holding is now in the possession of the family, so that the family have the advantage of the house and the improvements to the farm which are mentioned in the question. The case has been before the Sheriff Court and the Crofters' Commission, and both Courts decided against the claims of Mrs. Urquhart. Sir Kenneth Mackenzie offered the widow £23 to give up possession quietly, and offered his carts to remove her furniture. With regard to the last paragraph of the question, the Court has the power of extending the term of notice if the Court thinks the circumstances demand such extension. In this case it did not so think.
§ DR. MACGREGOR (Invernessshire)Will the Government consider the necessity of amending the Crofters' Act without delay; and, if the Imperial Parliament has no time to attend to such matters, will they refer them to a Scotch Parliament?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI think if the hon. Member reads the clause in the Crofters' Act he will see it is extremely doubtful whether any Amendment is required.
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI took it for granted that my answer covered that point when I stated that she was offered £23 and the use of the landlord's carts to remove her furniture.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)But is it a fact that the people were warned to give her neither food nor shelter?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANIt is not.