THE LEWIS CROFTERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 1896, 4 December 1923, Page 7

THE LEWIS CROFTERS.

LORD LEVERHULME’S GIFT. Viscount Leverhulme’s decision to quit ownership of The Lewes, announced personally by him to a. joint meeting of the Stornaway Town Council, does not surprise anyone who knows the problem with which he is faced, says the Glasgow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. It is live years since Lord Leverhulme took possession of the Lewis estate from the late propritor. Colonel Matheson, who was understood to have sunk a fortune in an effort to reclaim its lag-land. It has always been a mystery to anyone who knew the Hebrides that Lord Leverhulme was ever attracted to the spot. Even some of his adminstrators could not satisfy their curiosity as to why he chose such an uncongenial place for his adventure.

In offering the lands of Lewis to the people of Lewis, Lord Leverhulme reminded them that he did not come among them to indulge any tastes for sport or fishing. His aim was to further the welfare of the island. As a leading captain of industry, his line of proposed development was industrial, though it was a form of industry which he firmly believed was specially suited to the locality. It was the fishing industry which he primarily desired to see developed, both in the actual operations at sea and in the transport of fresh fish to the market, as well as in the curing and canning of surplus catches. In furtherance of' this design Lord Lever formed grandiose schemes, including replanning on modern lines the town of Stornaway and the enlargement of the harbour. The latter project itself -was to cost half a million pounds. Everyone knows now that Lord Leverhulme failed to reckon with the temperamental dislike of industrialism which is inherent in this island people. He was thwarted by a mere handful of the islanders. These men, who lived in houses which would be regarded anywhere outside the Hebrides as hovels, were determined to push their claims for land upon the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. Lewis is subject to the Small Landholders’ Act and under it those who hold crofts have security of tenure, and those who are landless have the right to apply to the Board for the creation of small holdings. Lord Leverhulme realised that life on a few acres would not improve the economic condition of the people, but would simply perpetuate the shocking standard of housing for which Lewis was becoming notorious. The duel of will-power which ensued between him and the dour land raiders forms a drama of great human interest. The Lewis men are fishermen first and crofters afterwards, but they will not yield their lands rights for any golden promises, because it is upon the land that they rely to carry them through periods of distress when the fishing season proves a failure. Lord Leverhulme attempted to meet the native desire for land by promising that each house built in connection with this development scheme should have a quarter of an acre of land attached; but the land raiders we re not tempted to work in fish-can-ning factories, for no form of hired labour appeals to them. These internal troubles held up various development works more than once ; and now Lord, Leverhulme has wearied of his project. He intends, however, to quit his island with mannanimity. He proposes to give to the people of Lewis the whole of the land, exclusive of properties in Stornaway which he bought. These he offered to their former owner at 10 per cent less than he paid for them. To the occupying crofters he offers the crofts, but he excludes the raided land from this offer. Apparently he is still disposed to retain possession of Harris, the southern portion of the island, of which Lewis is the northern and larger part. He purposes that trustees shall be .appointed to administer the estate, and that certain revenues shall be available to assist in its upkeep. The policies of Lewis Castle lie would like named Lady Lever Park, in memory of his late wife, who accompanied him on his first visit to Stornaway nearly forty years ago. His suggestion for the utilisation of the castle is interesting. He suggests that it should be used as the town hall in place of the buildings ruined by fire some years ago; that the dining room should be used as the council hall, and the ball-room as a municipal reception hall.