§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)To ask the Lord-Advocate if he will explain why certain fishermen residing at Cromarty were recently summoned to appear first at Dingwall and subsequently at Tain in connection with offences alleged to have been committed at Cromarty within a quarter of a mile of the courthouse provided for the trying of local cases, especially bearing in mind that the Dingwall Sheriff attended at Cromarty and conducted business there only two days after the men were before the Court at Dingwall; and, seeing that the trial at Dingwall or Tain of offences committed at Cromarty imposes heavy 1376 expenses on defendants as well as on witnesses, will instructions be given for such cases to be taken at the courthouse at Cromarty in future.
(Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) I have communicated on this subject with the Procurator-Fiscal and I await his Report, which has not yet been received. I am also in communication with the Sheriff of the county. Perhaps my hon. friend will put down the Question in a week's time.