MR. BRYCE: The matter to which the hon. Member refers is still receiving my careful consideration, and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend, the President of the Local Government Board, with a view of devising some efficient means of warning householders of the steps to be taken to prevent domestic boiler explosions in winter. No definite decision as to the precise means to be adopted has yet been arrived at. through one or more classes to a maxi- winter; and, if so, will he state his mum not exceeding £400 per annum, decision? including duty pay; and, if the competitive clerks in Her Majesty's prisons, who paid an examination fee of £3, entitling them in the customary course of promotion to a maximum of £400 per annum, were not included in this Return under the head referring to that maximum, will the Treasury send it back for correction in this particular, and exchange these clerks' certificates for those of the Second Division in order that the Royal Commissioners' recommendations for the Civil Service as a whole may be acted upon ? THE WINDING-UP OF PUBLIC COMPANIES. MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR Regis): I beg to ask the Chancellor of HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. the Exchequer whether his attention H. H. ASQUITH, Fife, E.): The Return has been given to the Treasury letter referred to was duly sent to the Trea- of 23rd January 1893, stating the sury by the Home Office, and the prison opinion of the Treasury that alterations clerks were included in it. The store- should be made in the instructions of keepers and first- and second-class clerks the Board of Trade to official receivers, of the Prison Department were placed and that a Committee should be apin this Return under the head of "Estab- pointed to investigate the question in all lished Clerks" (other than the Lower its bearings, and to advise as to the Division), rising through one or more limits within which the action of the classes to a salary not exceeding £400 Department should be restricted, and to a year. THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS COMMISSION. MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state when the maps, which were to be issued with the Report of the Highlands and Islands Commission, will be ready? SIR JOHN HIBBERT: I am informed that the maps will in all probability be delivered at the House of Commons by the end of this month. DR. D. MACGREGOR asked whether it was the case that the maps in question were promised before the Easter holidays? SIR JOHN HIBBERT: No; I do not think there was any promise about the matter. I said they were expected to be ready about the end of the month. KITCHEN BOILER EXPLOSIONS. MR. J. G. WEIR: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has, since the 19th March last, considered whether some means might be taken to warn householders how to prevent kitchen boiler explosions during Mr. T. Lough. the memorial to the Lord Chancellor, dated November 1894, of bankers and merchants in agreement with that letter; and whether Her Majesty's Government will agree to the appointment of a Select Committee of this House to make the investigation suggested by the Treasury! MR. E. BOULNOIS (Marylebone, E.): I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended that any action should be taken in consequence of the memorial addressed in November, 1894 to the Lord Chancellor, and signed by 125 leading bankers and merchants, which memorial requested that effect should be given to the views of the Treasury on the subject of the windingup of public companies; and whether any instructions have been given to the official receivers not to act as permanent liquidators in any case unless the parties interested are unable to find a competent representative of their interests elsewhere? MR. BRYCE: Subsequently to the letter of of 23rd January 1893, the whole subject to which it related was considered by a Departmental Committee, presided over by Sir J. Rigby, which took evidence at considerable length, and whose Report was presented, GAMBLING IN AGRICULTURAL in due course, to both Houses of Parliament. The Treasury and the Board of Trade accept the view of the meaning of the Statute which will be found in that Report, and the Treasury authorised the expenditure necessary to give effect to it. The practice of the Board of Trade is in accordance therewith. There does not, therefore, seem to be any necessity for an inquiry by a Select Committee. MR. E. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government have now received any information in reference to any legislation or other steps to be taken by the United States of America, or any of the Governments of European countries to prohibit gambling MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES, arising in agricultural commodities; whether out of the answer, asked whether the the Government have given any conBoard of Trade had acted or had sideration to this important question; neglected to act on the recommendation and whether they intend proposing any of the Committee; that the official legislation on the subject during the receivers should be instructed to take present Session? all reasonable means to discourage their functions as permanent liquidators; whether, as a matter of fact, since the Report was received, the official receiver in a particular case, had not acted as official liquidator; and whether he had not, contrary to a specific recommendation, borrowed a sum of a million-and-aquarter in order to carry on the company. MR. BRYCE admitted that the practice of the Board of Trade had varied. As regarded the particular case alluded to, what was done was done under the orders of the Committee. MR. BOULNOIS asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Treasury still adhered to the objection to the existing system contained in the letter sent by himself on January 23rd, 1893? *SIR JOHN HIBBERT: Certainly, so far as I know, the Treasury hold the same opinion. MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES: Well, then, do the Board of Trade act upon it? MR. BRYCE: The Board of Trade are acting in accordance with the Report of the Committee, which is subsequent to the letter of the Treasury. THE OFFICE OF WOODS AND FORESTS. MR. WALTER LONG: I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government intend to appoint a Commissioner of Woods and Forests in the place of Sir Nigel Kingscote? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT, Derby): I am informed that the Queen's pleasure has been taken upon this appointment, and it will be announced immediately. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Papers containing this information were issued yesterday. (Commercial, No. 2, 1895, C. 7,645.) I do not expect the Government will be able to propose legislation on this subject during the present Session. SCOTCH GRAND COMMITTEE. MR. J. G. WEIR: I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to move for the appointment of a Scotch Grand Committee; and whether arrangements will be made to push the Crofters Bill through its various stages without delay? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I am unable at present to say when the Government will be able to move for the appointment of a Scotch Grand Committee. I hope that the Government will be able to do so when we have made further progress with Scotch business, as I trust we shall do to-day. In regard to the Crofters' Bill, we shall push it through its various stages as fast as we can. THE NAVAL WORKS BILL. Works Bill Committee would be taken. SIR G. BADEN-POWELL trusted it GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. MR. SPEAKER'S RETIREMENT SILL. On Motion of the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, Bill read 2o ORDERS OF THE DAY. CROFTERS' HOLDINGS (SCOTLAND) On the Order for the Adjourned Debate on the Motion for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Crofters' Acts, giving further time to the Government than that, he was confined within his for Government business. He would small and sometimes diminishing holding. put down the terms of the Motion to- The hills on which the black cattle of night, but he might state generally that his fathers fed were not for him. He it would be on the same conditions as earnestly desired, and in vain, to be those which were granted to the Govern- allowed not to appropriate or invade, ment before Easter. but to lease, at a full rent, grazing land which would enable him to utilise his crops by feeding stock, and keep his stock first, and then, perhaps, his family, from starving. And, as the outcome of all this, the people were first miserable, then discontented, then turbulent, at last openly defiant of the law. I think none of these propositions will be disputed, nor will it be disputed that from the moment the Crofters' Commission appeared in the Highlands all these evils began to mend. The first fair rents were fixed in December 1886. Since that date more than 14,000 holdings have been visited and dealt with. Besides that, a large number of rents have been voluntarily reduced by landlords. More than 1,250,000 acres have been visited and settled by the ComTHE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND mission. The rents have been reduced (Sir GEORGE TREVELYAN, Glasgow, from £73,000 a year to £52,000 a year. Bridgeton) said: It will be well we The arrears were £180,000, and of these should inquire how the leading principles £122,000 have been cancelled, and the laid down by Parliament in 1886 have rest may fairly be said to have been worked, before we consider how those paid. The reductions granted on excesprinciples may be more carefully carried sive rents and the extinction of the out by amended legislation. Have the Crofters' Acts been a blessing to the districts to which they have been applied or have they been the reverse? Now, on this point, the Government are able to give a straight and impartial opinion to the House. A Commission has lately been appointed, drawn from all Parties in politics and from gentlemen in various callings, and this Commission has, in the most unqualified manner, reported effect on the moral and material welfare very strongly in favour of the operation of the crofters. It has fostered in them of the Crofters' Acts. On that favour- a spirit of independence and manhood. able opinion I am quite prepared to It has led to the better cultivation of base the Bill. Everyone who knows the the holdings, and it has led to the erecHighlands knows this favourable verdict tion of a great number of excellent is well deserved. How did the Act houses and farms, of a more healthy and find the Highlands, and what did it permanent description than ever were make of them? The crofter had no erected in the old days of insecurity. security of tenure. In the house he That is what it has done for the tenant, had built, the farm he had improved, and it has likewise done a good deal for he had no property whatever recognised the landlord. By the nominal sacrifice by the law. Again, he had no protection of a proportion of rent not greater than against arbitrary increase of rent. He Lowland landlords and landlords in Engwas overwhelmed with arrears, which he land have been obliged to give on could not pay or ever hope to pay. More account of economic causes, the crofter Chancellor of the Exchequer. burden of hopeless arrears have brought about among the tenants a widespread feeling of satisfaction and contentment, and have enabled thousands of crofters to make a new start, with a sense of having been fairly treated, and with legitimate hopes for the future never entertained before. That is the case as to fair rents. The provision for the security of tenure has had a marked landlords have been saved from a state expense of time, and of health too, I am of friction and of actual hostility with sorry to say, that extremely rough work their tenants. Instead of struggling was done may be guessed from the fact with their tenants for a rent which the that there were 64 sittings of the Comlatter were unable to pay, and for arrears mission during the two years, and that which they were still less able to pay, the work of survey went on in many they have now a right to demand, and cases for a week after each sitting. in the great majority of districts quite The Commission ascertained that readily obtain, the new rents and the in the six counties 440,000 acres of remains of the arrears. The result has land still remained which are suitable been that the tenants and the landlords for the extension of existing holdings. have gained, and that the State have How much of that land has been utilised gained also, for the old state of semi- for the purpose of the Act? Only 843 rebellion that formerly existed in the acres of arable land and 25,500 acres of Highlands has passed away, and the old pasture-not 27,000 acres in all, or not scandals are a thing of the past. The 5 per cent. of what might have been crofting counties under the operation of brought within the beneficial intentions the Act are as quiet as Cumberland or of Parliament. In 1888, during the late Surrey. I will now go to the provisions administration, at my request a Report of the Bill; and I will deal first with was called for in which reasons were that part of it that relates to the exten- given why the intentions of Parliament sion of holdings. Parliament sanctioned had been defeated, and why the enlargethat principle in 1886. The immemorial ment of holdings could not be carried industry of the Highlands is a combina- out with the same success as the fixing tion of arable farming with grazing, and of fair rents. The Crofters' Commission it is in order to enable the crofter to were of opinion that one of the main have the indispensable mountain grazing causes that had prevented applications that Parliament accepted the strong, and for the enlargement of holdings being perhaps in these days new, principle of lodged was to be found in the Act of compulsory leasing. Great hopes were Parliament, in Section 13, which fixed entertained by the crofters and their the scope of the words "available land." friends from the operation of the Act, The first sub-section requires that land but, on the whole, those hopes have been applied for must be "contiguous or near disappointed. Between 1886 and 1893 to the land already occupied, and the there have been 217 applications for the second that the land applied for be enlargement of holdings by 2,450 crofters."not under lease other than a sporting There would doubtless have been a great lease " for а term of years at the many more if they could have been made date of the passing of the Act. But with a fair chance of success. But only besides that, since I have held my pre57 holdings have been enlarged, and only sent office I have been continually in840 crofters benefited, and these figures quiring of those who were able to inform include some extremely handsome ar- me, and the result of my inquiries is rangements that have been made by landlords voluntarily. This state of things has to be remedied, and the goodwill that Parliament has shown towards the crofters has to be carried into practical effect. Therefore the first step of the Government has been to appoint the Commission which has just brought its labours to a close. Once for all, I must say that I think the public owe a very great debt of gratitude to the gentlemen who have served on the Commission. It was a vast work-a sort of cadastral survey of six Scotch counties-and no one who knows anything about the nature of the work can possibly doubt that it has been quickly and thoroughly done. At what VOL. XXXII. [FOURTH SERIES.] that the Government propose to embody in the Bill certain clauses which they believe will make the Crofters' Act completely effective in this respect. In the first place it is proposed that in the case of pasture land the condition of its being contiguous to the crofter's holding shall be removed, but in the case of arable land that it shall be maintained. In the second place, the Bill removes the restriction against taking land in the case of a farming and grazing lease in existence at the time of the passing of the Act of 1886; that restriction does not exist in the case of a sporting lease. At present land can not be taken from a farm which is let at less than a £100 a 3 Y year. Now agricultural rents have un- a single crofter to make the application. doubtedly fallen 20 per cent., and Finally, it is proposed by the Bill that, perhaps more, in those parts of the instead of having the beneficent powers Highlands, and the Government propose of the Act of 1886 renewed by sucto recognise that fact and so allow land cessive Expiring Laws Continuance Acts, to be taken from a farm having rent of those powers shall be made as per£80 instead of £100 a year. In the manent as the Commission itself is next place, under the existing law, if an I now come to the provisions for imapplication is made for the enlargement proving the status of the crofter. A of a holding it can not be granted if the considerable number of people belonging combined rent of the crofter's croft and to the crofter class and residing in his share of the grazing amounts to over crofter parishes are at present excluded £15. The limit appears to the Govern- from the benefits of the Act because ment to be unfortunate. Thirty pounds they hold under lease. By the Act of is the limit of the crofter's rent, and a 1887 leaseholders generally were adfarm of £30 a year is the sort of farm mitted to the benefits of the Irish Land that the Government would like to see Acts, and the arguments which held the crofters have, and therefore they good in the case of Irish leaseholders appropose to raise the limit for the pear to me to hold good for the Highcombined holding from £15 to £30 land leaseholders also. These men see a year. Under the Act land their neighbours enjoying fixity of taken for the enlargement of a croft tenure and reduced rents in farms like must belong to the same landlord, their own in respect of the nature of the and there is a great deal to be said in soils and the character of the cultivation, favour of the provision, but it has been and yet they are possibly paying agriculbrought to the knowledge of the Govern- tural rents which are on a level with ment that there are cases in which the those which existed before the great fall land has been alienated by the landlord in agricultural prices. These leasehold in other than what might be called a communities still form centres of great bona fide manner for the purpose of discontent, and the men who compose evading his obligations under the Act. them command the sympathy of the im In order to carry out the spirit of the mense majority of their neighbours of law the Government think that the every class. These leaseholders, then, matter should be dealt with. It can be the Government propose to admit to the no grievance at all to a man who has benefits of the crofter legislation. Then made other than a bond fide alienation there is the case of the crofter who in of his land that they should make pro- 1886 held under a lease which has now vision against his withdrawing himself run out, and who has been defenceless from the scope of the law, and, as the since its lapse. The general policy of Government hope by these new pro Parliament in dealing with Ireland has visions that the enlargement of holdings been that no tenant should suffer because will be very much increased, so there is he happened at a particular moment to a danger that this practice would in- be under lease, and similarly under this crease likewise, and they think that it Bill anyone who is under lease at the were well that Parliament should meet time of the passing of the Act will be it on the threshold. We therefore pro- admitted to the benefits. The framers pose that the vacant land of a holding of the Bill have been very careful to shall be available for the enlargement of admit all the crofters, but do not wish to other holdings, and in case land is taken admit people who are not crofters. For for the enlargement of holdings from a this reason the Government refused in farmer under an existing lease we pro- 1886 to have anything to do with free pose that the Commissioners shall have sale, and they still refuse, because under the same powers they now have in the free sale farmers from all parts of the case of a deer forest and shall be enabled country might claim the benefits of to arrange the amount of the rent that the Act. But, as I have said, they has to be paid under that lease. Then are desirous to admit all genuine crofters, we propose to do away with the neces- and as some genuine crofters do not fulfil sity for five crofters applying for the the condition of actual residence on their enlargement of a holding, and to enable holdings, the Bill proposes that a crofter Sir George Trevelyan. |