§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that Mr. W. Sproat, Procurator Fiscal, Tobermory, is acting as 790 law agent for the Duke of Argyll and Marquess of Lorne in an action for ejectment and forfeiture of croft against John Macdonald, crofter, Kilkennick, Tiree; and, in view of the promise of the Lord Advocate on the 24th of May, 1892, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
*THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUE,&c.) Clackmannan,I am informed that Mr. Sproat is acting as agent for the Duke of Argyll, in an action in the ordinary Courts, for the recovery of a sum of £20 15s., the amount of arrears due in respect of rent which was fixed by the Crofters Commission at £4 15s. I do not find that the late Lord Advocate gave any promise on the 24th of May, 1892, and I have no power to prevent Mr. Sproat from engaging in private practice, seeing that he is not restrained by the terms of his Commission from doing so.
§ MR. CALDWELLI shall call attention to this matter on the Estimates.