§ Mr. COCHRANEasked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in the Report of the Congested Districts Board for the year to 31st March, 1908, in which they state, in answer to an application from the settlers in Syre expressing their desire to become tenants instead of purchasers, that such a course is not competent under the powers given to them by their Act; and whether, in view of this statement, he sees any reason to reconsider his opinion that the Congested Districts Boards have power to purchase and hold land?
§ Mr. UREIn the case of the Syre Settlement the settlers who applied to become tenants were already the owners of their holdings, having purchased them from the Congested Districts Board, and the Congested Districts Board were, therefore, only in the position of a secured creditor until the purchase moneys should be paid. This is a different case from the preparation of a scheme of settlement for tenants under the crofting tenure on an estate. I see no reason to reconsider the opinion given by my predecessor in office. in which I concurred, that the Congested Districts Board has power to purchase and hold land.