HC Deb 16 May 1895 vol 33 cc1322-3
*MR. ALPHEUS C. MORTON (Peterborough)

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received any further information as to the proposed eviction of crofters at Kinrossie, Perthshire; whether he is aware that the Sheriff Clerk of Perthshire is also agent for the Messrs. Nairne, the proprietors of the land in question; and that the Procurator Fiscal of Perthshire is also connected in business with the landed proprietors in the county; if he will cause inquiry to be made whether the dwelling-houses in question were wholly built, or extensively repaired, by the occupying crofters or their relations, and whether any of the crofters in question have resigned their holdings voluntarily; and whether he will order an independent inquiry to be made into all the circumstances of the case?

SIR JOHN G. KINLOCH (Perth, E.)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question may I ask him whether it is the case that these tenants have been compelled to leave their holdings without any compensation being given for the improvements made by them in their houses and lands?

THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir GEORGE TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, Bridgeton

The Sheriff Clerk and Procurator Fiscal of Perthshire were both appointed a considerable time ago, and they are not debarred by their Commissions from private practice as law agents. The Sheriff Clerk is factor on the estate of Dunsinane belonging to Messrs. Nairne. The Procurator Fiscal is factor upon two small estates, upon neither of which are there crofters. It is understood that the predecessors of the present occupants built their houses with assistance from the proprietors, and that in consideration of this they got their holdings, which are separate from their houses, at a low rent. The Sheriff informs me that the houses are generally speaking old, and that no one has made repairs of any importance upon them without assistance from the proprietors. Of the six crofters who have now received notice to quit, four retain their houses, and those who desire new crofts will receive them. Two crofters are warned out from both houses and crofts. I shall inquire as to the reasons in respect of which it is proposed to remove them from the estate. I will at the same time inquire as to the question addressed to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Perth.

DR. DONALD MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that it is alleged that these people have been evicted on account of political partisanship, and whether that is true or not?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

The information I have from the Sheriff confines itself to this, that they made themselves offensive to the proprietor, and I want to know how they made themselves offensive. As the Sheriff has given me that information I shall consider it my duty to inquire how they made themselves offensive.

*MR. ALPHEUS C. MORTON

Must I put down another question in order to get an answer on that point?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

That is for the hon. Gentleman to decide. I shall endeavour to obtain the information for myself.