§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of Scotland whether, in view of the fact that Major Matheson of Lewis Castle, the proprietor of the Island of Lewis, is now carrying out evictions of landless cottars who have built at their own expense substantial stone houses on waste land, he proposes to take stops to stay further evictions and to protect these men (chiefly fishermen) with their wives and children from such cruel and inhuman treatment.
§ MR. SINCLAIRThe information I have received respecting Andrew Finlayson and John Campbell North Tolsta referred to in the hon. Member's letter of April 25th is as follows: Finlayson was warned in February, 1903, that he would not be allowed to build a house on the common grazing. This warning was repeated the following month. As he nevertheless continued to build he was interdicted in May, 1903. In spite of the interdict he continued operations, and in April, 1904, he was observed to be roofing his house. Warning was then sent, and was repeated in May, 1904. The following August he was found in possession, and in June, 1905, he was evicted. On eviction the proprietor offered to find him rooms in Stornoway, but this offer was refused, and he went to live in the Missionary House. In October he re-entered the house, and the same step was taken by Campbell, the other squatter referred to. The proprietor refrained during the winter months from taking action. These men had squatted on land not in occupation of the proprietor, but in that of the crofters, in defiance of Section 1 (4) of the Crofters Act of 1886. As the hon. Member knows, the condition of the Lews and of 733 the crofting districts generally is under the serious consideration of the Government.