CROFTERS' COMMONS GRAZINGS REGULATION BILL.

HC Deb 10 December 1908 vol 198 cc931-2

Order for the Second Heading read.

MR. COCHRANE

thought that on the Second Reading of the Bill the right hon. Gentleman ought to give a word of explanation.

MR. SINCLAIR

said he was glad to have the opportunity of explaining to the House that the Bill consisted of one clause, the object of which was to strengthen the powers of the Crofter Commission dealing with common grazing in Scotland. It gave them the power to strengthen the Committees which were to be appointed. These Committees under the Bill would now be allowed to move without waiting till they were requested to do so. He knew the operations, and the Commons Grazing Committees of Scotland had been very much hampered by the fact that crofters who unduly benefit could not be induced to move to secure that all classes might have their fair share in the grazings. In another way it altered the procedure of the existing Act, by the insertion of words, which provided that a breach of any regulations made under the Act should be liable to a penalty not exceeding 40s. That was really the very small scope of the Bill, and it would be of very great advantage to the crofters. It enabled them to regulate their common grazing, and to insure that the common grazings should not be over-stocked.

* MR. COCHRANE

said he would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman one question. As he understood it, the Bill enabled the Crofter Commissions to set up committees whether the crofters applied for their setting up or not. A penalty was imposed for overstocking which would now be defined by law. Under the existing Act the penalties which the sheriff could inflict were unrestricted and unlimited. After the passing of this Bill, would the penalty to be inflicted be one not exceeding 40s., and 5s. per day during the continuance of the offence?

MR. SINCLAIR

said no, that was not the case. The penalty imposed by that Bill was without prejudice, and did not take away any existing powers. There was no intention to interfere with the existing law.

Bill read a second time.

Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House for To-morrow.—(Mr. Sinclair.)

Whereupon Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER, in pursuance of the Order of the House of 31st July, adjourned the House without Question put.

Adjourned at seventeen minutes past One o'clock.