§ 29. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to a meeting of crofters at Dalibrugh, South Uist, when a resolution was passed stating that unless satisfactory assurances were immediately received from the Board of Agriculture that new holdings would be allotted this summer so as to permit of work thereon commencing this season, they would seize and occupy the land regardless of consequences; whether he can state how many applications for new holdings have been received from that area, and how long since they have been received; whether he can say what has been done with those applications; and whether he is aware that the feeling expressed in the resolution is indictative of the disappointment felt by all applicants in Scotland for small holdings at the slow working of the machinery of the Act?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have seen a statement in the Press to the effect stated. There have been eighty-six applications for new holdings and thirty-three for enlargements from persons resident in Daliburgh, South Uist. The first of these was received on 9th May, 1912, and the last on 29th May, 1913. These and other applicants from South Uist have been interviewed, and an application by the Board of Agriculture for an Order to constitute ninety-nine new holdings and forty-eight enlargements on the farms of Ormiclate, Bornish, and Milton, embracing an area of 19,850 acres, was heard by the Land Court on the 22nd ultimo. The Court has not yet announced its decision.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman do his best to whip up these Land Courts in view of the poverty which exists in this district?
§ 31. Mr. HOGGEasked whether applicants for explanatory leaflets on the working of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act are being told by the Board of Agriculture that those leaflets are out of print; and when a further supply will be available?
Mr. McKINNON WOODTwo of the four leaflets in question are out of print owing to the large demand, and are under revision; a fresh supply will be available very shortly.
§ 32. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether there were several applications for small holdings for the new Duffus district about a year ago; whether one of the Sub-Commissioners of the Board of Agriculture visited them in January last; whether suitable land was pointed out to him; whether the applicants were led to believe that they would soon get land; whether since then they have heard nothing more about it; whether such dilatoriness on the part of the Board is engendering a spirit of dissatisfaction with the administration of the Act; and what steps he proposes to take to immediately satisfy these applicants?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. Negotiations are in progress with proprietors with a view to constituting new holdings and enlargements on farms in the district named.
§ 33. Mr. HOGGEasked whether there is an opinion prevalent in Scotland that applications for small holdings will never be attracted to the Lowland counties in any large numbers till the actual holdings for which men can apply are established; and, seeing that the large demand for holdings that come into the market is a clear proof of this contention, what is the specific scheme, if any, of the Board of Agriculture for the establishment of groups of holdings in Lowland Scotland?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt is probable that the constitution of small holdings in the South of Scotland would have the effect suggested. Four schemes for groups of holders are already in operation in Dumfries, Selkirk, Roxburgh and Kirk-cudbright, and similar schemes for other Lowland counties are in preparation.