HH62/1/INVERN/17

Transcription

[page] 16

sum of money (on the mainland) for the development of the
islands. Railway companies and steamboat proprietors are to be
sibsidized, and the result, no doubt, will be beneficial to the
islands; but surely something also might be done for their internal
development. Money spent in making roads, which are greatly
needed, in building piers, which would be of immense advantage,
and in improving the dwellings of the people, would certainly
improve the health of the people, and make them more prosperous
and more likely to take advantage of the proposed new railways.
The great majority of the men belong to one or other branches
of the Reserve, being either Naval Reserve men or Militia men,
thus showing their willingness to assist in the defence of the
country, and on this account they have a claim on the Govern-
ment to take some interest in their welfare, and to help
to enable them to live in houses fit for human habitation.
Although, owing to heavy rates and other charges, the islanders
do not reap so much benefit from the fisheries as they might be
expected to do, still, as large exporters of food supply, they are
important factors in the economy of the country. The list of
deaths from drowning in the Appendix speaks eloquently on the
danger of their calling. Since the benefits of the Crofter Act have
been obtained, and fixity of tenure secured, much has been done
by the people themselves to improve their dwellings. In the
Island of Barra a skilled mason, I understand, is now constantly
employed in erecting houses of an improved type. I would
suggest that the crofters be assisted by the Government in their
laudable endeavours to improve their dwellings; that on certain
conditions grants be given to them for this purpose; and that they
be supplied with wood and lime on easy terms. If this were done,
I am sure that in a few years very few of the wretched huts,
which are a blot to our boasted civilization, would remain. I give
some sketches showing the class of houses found in the Western
Islands. They are from photographs which I took during my
inspection of the district. I show, also, sketches of houses recently
erected by a member of County Council for his labourers; the
contrast is striking and speaks for itself.

DISTRICT REPORTS.
1ST DISTRICT.
The sanitary condition of this district is, generally speaking,
satisfactory. The District Committee have given much attention
to sanitary matters. They have appointed sub-committees, who
have visited all parts of the district along with the sanitary staff.
Regulations have been issued for the treatment of infectious dis-
eases and for the supervision of common lodging-houses. A sub-com-
mittee has visited all the dairies in the district, and regulations
are to be drawn up on this subject. The state of the villages of
Campbelltown and Culcabock has been investigated, and remedial

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FIVE ROOMED STONE BUILT COTTAGE

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IN NORTH UIST