§ MR. T. R. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to a meeting of the Aberdeen Fish Trade Association on 25th February, at which a magistrate of the city of Aberdeen, speaking on the subject of the Laws relating to trawling is reported to have stated that it was the duty of every law-abiding citizen to do what he could to resist the Law, and to have urged concerted action on the part of the members of the association to make an imposing demonstration against the Law; what steps he intends taking to prevent this threatened infraction of the Law; and whether the attention of the proper authorities will be drawn to the conduct of this magistrate?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. O. TREVELYAN, Glasgow, Bridgeton)I have seen the report of the speech at the meeting mentioned in the question, as also the report of a speech made by the magistrate referred to, at a meeting on Friday evening last. Though the former speech was not very cautiously worded, I do not gather that the magistrate intended to advise violent resistance to the Law, and to those who have to execute it. After inquiry made in the proper quarter I have no reason to suppose that such violent resistance is contemplated.