§ DR. MACGREGORI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings before the Deer Forest Commission on the 14th instant, when a factor on an estate in Inverness-shire stated that a large farm with good arable laud, carrying 8,500 sheep, was to be turned into another doer forest, because as he said there was some difficulty in letting it, yet confessed that it had not been advertised to let; whether, under these circumstances, the Government will take such steps as will put a stop to the increase of deer forests until the Royal Commission has 1346 reported to this House; and whether the Government will support a Bill now before the House having this for its object?
§ * SIR G. TREVELYANI have read in the newspapers the report of the proceedings before the Deer Forest Commission. It bears out the statement of my hon. Friend. It is certainly the case that sheep farms are in course, and for ever since the Report of the Highland Commission have been in course, of conversion into deer forests without any regard being paid to the limit of 1,000 feet above the sea recommended by that Commission. The knowledge of this state of things was one main reason for the appointment of the Deer Forests Commission, and the action of the Government will be determined after receiving their Report.
§ DR. MACGREGORMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that Inverness-shire is the largest county in Scotland, that it has an area equal to about one-seventh of the whole of Scotland, that more than one-third of it is under deer forests, that one-tenth of it is locked up, that 400 square miles of land between that county and Ross-shire has been locked up without oven any shooting over it, and are the Government to sit down quietly and allow this state of affairs to go on?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI was brought up at an English public school, and my geographical knowledge has been picked up by rule of tongue. I am aware that there is one county in Scotland bordering on Inverness-shire, in which out of 2,200,000 acres 1,200,000 acres are already under deer forest, and I think that is a very serious state of affairs. I can add nothing to the answer I have already given.
§ DR. MACGREGORThe question is, what is the remedy?