§ Mr. WEIRasked the Lord Advocate, in view of the purchases of land by the Congested districts Board, especially in Inverness-shire, would he state whether Major Matheson, the proprietor of the island of Lewis, had been approached with a view to the purchase of land by the Board for the creation of new crofter holdings?
Mr. DEWARThe question of land purchase in the Lewis is not at present before the Congested Districts Board, and no proposals in that direction have been made to the proprietor.
§ Mr. WEIRasked the Lord Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland was aware that the farm of Dalbeg, Shawbost, island of Lewis, consisting of 1,930 acres, was formerly in the occupation of crofters, and that Mr. Forsyth, one of the Crofter Commissioners, after inspecting the farm, reported to the Congested Districts Board that part of it was suitable for new holdings; and, seeing that the cottars who planted potatoes on part of the farm did not take that action until they had been removed from the crofter holdings on which they were previously located, owing to the crofters being unable any longer to bear the burden of the cottars on their crofts, would the Secretary for Scotland state briefly what efforts he had made to secure new holdings on Dalbeg from the proprietor, Major Matheson, especially bearing in mind that these men had expressed their inability to seek a living outside the island of Lewis for want of funds?
Mr. DEWARThe Secretary for Scotland is aware of the facts referred to by my hon. Friend, who was informed, in reply to a question on 28th April, that the proprietor is not prepared to create new holdings on the farm of Dalbeg.