HC Deb 23 March 1914 vol 60 cc42-3
Mr. MACPHERSON

May I ask the Secretary for Scotland a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether eleven inhabitants of the Island of Lewis were on Thursday sentenced to six weeks imprisonment by the High Court of Justice in Edinburgh for trespass; whether he is aware that no damage was done to the farm or cattle on the farm over which they trespassed; whether it is not a fact that they are all men of high character, and have almost all been born on it, and that the proprietor of the farm did not wish or press for punishment; and whether in view of those facts, and the fact that they have persistently and repeatedly used every means to secure the land at an equitable rent, he will take steps to have them immediately released?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I am aware of the procedings in Court to which my hon. Friend refers. As regards the remainder of the question, I would remind him that the sentences in this case were imposed solely in respect of the deliberate disregard by the prisoners of the order of the Court and after they had twice rejected the opportunities given to them by the Court to enter into an undertaking to desist from illegal action in the future. In these circumstances I must answer the last part of the question in the negative.

Mr. JAMES HOGGE

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what steps the Board of Agriculture have taken to procure that land for those men?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

The farm on which these men desired a settlement is one which, under the Small Land Holders Act, it is not competent for the Board of Agriculture to take compulsorily.

Mr. J. HOGGE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Sub-section 16 (a) of Clause 7 of the original Act gives the Board of Agriculture power to take that particular farm?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

No, Sir; certainly not.

Mr. PIRIE

Is it the case that my hon. Friend wanted to put this similar question to the Secretary for Scotland last Friday, and the Secretary for Scotland was not there, and purposely stayed away? May I also ask if it is the case if a similar incident had taken place in Ireland it would have been treated not as a criminal but as a political offence, and whether, in view of the fact that these men, some of whom are unsophisticated Highlanders not able to speak English, and who have never known a Police Court—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member had better give notice of that question.