§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that crofters, cottars, and others resident at Aultbea, Ross-shire, have applied to the proprietor of Drum-chork sheep farm for an allocation of the land for enlargement of holdings and the creation of new holdings, and, seeing that the people have written to the Crofters Commission on the subject, and have asked the Congested Districts Board whether they would be prepared to take over the stock, will he ascertain why no notice has been taken of the application by either department; and, having regard to the fact that this farm was formerly in the occupation of the people, and was scheduled by the Deer Forests Commissioners as suitable for new holdings and the extension of existing holdings, will the Congested Districts Board endeavour to induce the proprietor to accede to the application made to him.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) A communication in the sense suggested has been sent to the Crofters Commission, but no formal application has been made. In 1888 a similar application was found to be incompetent on the ground that the value of the subject in question was under £100 per annum. Since that date, by direct arrangement with the landlord, part of the farm has been assigned to crofters for enlargement of holdings, and I am informed the remainder has been let to a tenant at a rent of £52.