SMALL HOLDINGS IN SCOTLAND I07 



last Report, from which these particulars are taken, in many cases the 

 arrears consisted of the accumulations of generations, and although they 

 might be regarded on paper as assets, they were really irrecoverable ; while 

 in other cases they arose on rents which the Commission held were not fair 

 rents, and were cancelled in terms of the Act. The Commission also dealt 

 with 4,300 applications for the enlargement of holdings, and assigned for 

 this purpose over 72,000 acres of land, mainly pastoral. 



A marked improvement in the social condition of the crofters has re- 

 sulted from the provisions of the Act and the labours c f the Commission, 

 especiall}- in the matter of housing. The improved dwellinghouses now to 

 be seen in the townships of the west coast and the western islands have not 

 indeed been paid for out of the produce of the land, but rather out of the 

 earnings of the sons and daughters of the crofters who have migrated to the 

 lowlands, or have emigrated to Canada and the other British dominions. 

 But the increased security given to the crofter in the possession of the im- 

 provements provided by himself, and the certainty of continued occupation 

 of the holding, have made it more reasonable for him to invest in this 

 way any surplus he may have, from whatever source derived. The dimin- 

 ution of rents has given sensible relief to the population of these district'-, 

 where the circulation of mone^' is not large. Some improvement is noted 

 m the methods of cultivation employed, and in the management of the 

 common grazings, but in these matters much may yet be done. 



The Commission, however, carried on their work under certain limit- 

 ations. It may be doubted whether it was a sound policy to confer, as 

 the Act did, the same perpetuity of tenure on the extremely small holdings 

 in the island of Lewis as on the larger, though still small holdings found 

 in other of the crofting districts. Another complication found, especially 

 in Lewis, is the existence of "squatters" — ^ persons occupying part of a 

 croft which is already too small to afford a living to the tenant, and paying 

 part of the rent to him. The conditions of Lewis form a problem apart. 

 But any drastic action w^ould have encountered great difficulties, and it 

 was simpler to treat alike all holdings under the statutory limit. The 

 Commission were thus precluded from any possibility of rearranging the 

 tenure of land in such cases. But, further, they had no power to foim new 

 holdings where they were required, or to assist migration from congested 

 districts. Their powers in connection with the enlargement of holdings 

 w ere limited by various restrictions on the choice (jf land for this pur- 

 pose and on the amount that might be allotted to applicants. Finally, 

 they had no funds at their disposal for any purpose beyond their administrat- 

 ive expenses. 



A Royal Commission appointed in 1892 to consider the question of land 

 available for crofters' holdings reported that 1,783,000 acres not at that 

 time used for this purpose might be so used. There was then a strong move- 

 ment for further legislation in the crofting districts as well as in the re- 

 maining parts of Scotland, which will be spoken of later. 



