§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that public business is being dispatched more rapidly than was anticipated when he made his statement on the 18th ultimo, arrangements will now be made to carry the Crofters' Act Amendment Bill this Session, in fulfilment of the pledges repeatedly made by the Liberal Leaders prior to and during the last General Election?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) DerbyI have already said that if this is an unopposed Bill it may be proceeded with. It must depend on whether the Bill is opposed or not.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANEMay I ask whether, in case circumstances prevent the Bill being brought in this year, and in consideration of the postponement of the Bill being consented to for this Session, the right hon. Gentleman will give a pledge to bring the Bill on early next year, when the Report of the Deer Forest Commission will be available, on which an enlarged Bill might be founded?
§ MR. WEIRBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask him whether we are to abandon all hope of the Bill being passed this Session?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI cannot advise anyone to abandon all hope. It does not rest with me. As to enlarged pledges for next Session, I am not in a position at present to make them.
§ * DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)Arising out of that answer, I wish to ask whether Scottish legislation must ever be dragged like this at the heels of England? Is it because of the meekness and submission of the majority of the Scotch Members, who are evidently afraid to say "bo" to a goose? Some of us have called attention to this matter in every mortal way, from the quoting of Scripture to the verge of physical exhaustion.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ DR. MACGREGORBy way of personal explanation.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ Subsequently,
§ * DR. MACGREGORsaid: Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my regret that for pressing for a small measure of justice for my constituents I 253 should be considered in this House as out of Order. I do not ask for the passing of this Bill as a favour; I demand it as a right on the part of my constituents. I hope I am not out of Order in saying that, Mr. Speaker. [Cries of "Order!"] Who says "Order"? Allow me to say that the Government have been pledged for two years to concede the very Bill which we are now fighting for. At the end of two years I think it extremely improper so to use the Highland Representatives.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ * DR. MACGREGORI wish to give another notice on the subject—that if this Bill is not passed this Session I shall next Session do everything in my power to block every Government measure that may be introduced, from those mentioned in the Queen's Speech downwards.