§ 49. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland if he can say why there are only 550 applicants for land under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act from twenty-five counties in Scotland, whereas there are 532 in Argyllshire; and 709 why in the distinctively agricultural counties of Aberdeen, Forfar, Stirling, Selkirk, Kincardine, Banff, Linlithgow, Berwick, Haddington, Kinross, and Nairn, there were only ninety-three up to the 31st December, 1912?
Mr. McKINNON WOODDifferences in the number of applications arise from a variety of local circumstances, but it may be that the applications from the crofting counties, of which Argyllshire is one, are more numerous because the benefits of landholding legislation have been experienced there since the Crofters Act, 1886.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes my right hon. Friend not think that the deficiency in the applications in the counties I have mentioned is due to the fact that the necessary advertisements have not been made?
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONIs not another possible explanation that in these distinctly agricultural counties they are practical agriculturists who do not think much of the Bill?
§ 50. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked if, in view of the evidence given before the Land Court as to the depredations by deer, the Secretary for Scotland proposes to introduce legislation for the more adequate protection of small holders?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI would remind my hon. Friend that the Government has already legislated on this subject, both in Section 9 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1908, and in Section 10 (3) of the Small Landholders Act, 1911. The effect of the latter provision is that damages claimed by a small holder suffering from the depredations of deer are assessed by the Land Court instead of by arbitration. In view of this recent provision it would be premature to propose further legislation at the present time.