Dr. Clark on Tuesday moved the adjournment of the House
in order to bring up again the question of the crofters' difficulties in the Highlands. Supported by Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Buchanan, he insisted that the Crofters Commission of 1886 had recommended that the crofters should have more land, that no more land had been given them, and that, con- sequently, they were in danger of starvation. He apparently wished, and other Members on his side openly advised, that the deer-forests should be divided among the crofters, as they would never emigrate while there was uncultivated land in their own country. The Lord-Advocate replied that there never had been an application from crofters for the " forest " land—" forest," land in Scotland is not tree-bearing land, but moorland—they knowing that it could not be culti- vated; that it was useless to give land at a distance with- out capital to work it; that the evil was over-population ; that emigration was the only possible remedy ; and that Government would help an emigration scheme. Mr. Chamber- lain, who has himself visited the islands for the purpose of inquiry, concurred, though he thought that', a portion of Mr. Winans's gigantic forest tenancy might be acquired and settled with crofters to the general relief ; and the House refused the adjournment by 205 to 99. The Government is right in principle; but we think it might at a time like the present raise four regiments of Hebrideans, 'who make admirable soldiers, and thus withdraw four thousand young men from the crushing competition.
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