MR. J. G.WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, whether his attention has been called to a statement by Norman M'Aulay, Angus M'Kay, and Angus Smith, to the effect that since they emigrated in 1889 to the Saltcoats Settlement in the North West Territory they are in greater poverty than they ever were in the Highlands of Scotland; that during the first three years they could not raise any crops owing to the frosts; and also praying that inquiry be made into their impoverished circumstances; and whether, having regard to the frequent complaints by crofter settlers, an independent inquiry will be made into the condition of these colonists with a view to redressing their grievances?
§ * THE LORD ADVOCATE (Sir CHARLES PEARSON,) Edinburgh and St. Andrew's UniversitiesOn inquiry I find that the persons referred to by the hon. Member, abandoned their holdings in the summer and autumn of 1892, 1235 leaving their lands, houses and chattels in the possession of the Colonisation Board; they did so without previous communication with the Board's Agent, and since then have been on their own responsibility. The Colonisation Board are of opinion that if they had remained to work their holdings, and carried out their agreements, they would now have been in a satisfactory position. There does not seem to be any necessity for further inquiry at the present time, but the condition of the settlements and the progress of the settlers will continue to receive the careful attention of the Secretary for Scotland and of the Colonisation Board.