§ On the question, that the sum of 30,000l. be granted for defraying the allowances and expenses of revising barristers.
§ Mr. Humewished to know, whether the decisions of those Gentlemen had been more uniform last year than they had been in the previous ones? In former times take any ten of them upon any 200 one question and they would find five of one opinion and five of a contrary one.
§ Mr. Crippshad had the honour of being appointed a revising barrister, and he could assure the hon. Member and the House, that the conflicting decisions did not arise so much from ignorance on the part of the barrister as from the obscurity of the act of Parliament—some of the clauses of the act were utterly irreconcilable. If the Government were to apply their minds to the formation of a good registration bill, they would much benefit the country; of course he could not expect it in the present Session, but if the law were much simplified they could do with much fewer barristers, and, of course, the vote would not be so large.
§ Sir J. Grahamdid not intend to recede from his pledge. It was his intention, before the end of the Session, to ask leave to bring in a registration bill. Whether the hon. Gentleman would think it a good one or not he did not know, but it would most likely lead to a uniformity of decision, inasmuch as it would contain a provision for constituting an appellant tribunal.
§ Vote agreed to.