HC Deb 30 July 1877 vol 236 cc161-3
MR. DILLWTN

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the appoint- ment of solicitor to the Office of Woods has been recently conferred upon a barrister; whether this office has not heretofore been invariably given to a solicitor; whether the emoluments of the office are £1,500 a-year, rising to £1,800 a-year, or whether there has been any change in the scale; whether on the vacancy in the office being declared the President of the Incorporated Law Society, on behalf of that body, addressed letters to the Prime Minister urging that as heretofore the appointment should be given to a solicitor in preference to a barrister; and, whether from 1872 to 1876, inclusive, the barrister who received the appointment was in practice or kept chambers?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER ,

in reply, said, it was quite true the office of Solicitor to the Office of Woods had recently been conferred upon a barrister. From 1812 to 1851 the legal business of the Department had been entrusted to a firm of solicitors, who were also in private practice. In 1851 a member of that firm was appointed sole solicitor, retaining his private practice. In 1855 Mr. Watson, the gentleman who had recently resigned, was appointed, and was required to give up private practice. Mr. Watson was appointed solicitor, except as to the Royal forests, at a salary of £1,000 a-year, increasing to £1,300 after five years, and to £1,500 after two years' further service; but on being appointed solicitor to the Royal forests his salary was increased to £1,800. On the recommendation of the Commissioners of Woods, the salary of the office, on the occurrence of a vacancy, was fixed at £1,200 for the first five years, and £1,500 a-year afterwards. It was quite true that the President of the Incorporated Law Society did address the Prime Minister with a view of obtaining, for a solicitor, the appointment of solicitor, not only to the Woods and Forests, but also to the India Board, which had not yet been settled. From 1872 to 1876 the present holder of the office was in practice as a Parliamentary barrister, and had chambers at Westminster. In 1876 he resumed business at the Bar. The Commissioners of Woods had given their advice, that it was immaterial whether a solicitor or a barrister was appointed, so long as they obtained an efficient man. He had also ascertained that since the present Government had been in power the Prime Minister had filled up seven legal offices—two by promotion, two by appointment of solicitors, one by appointment of a barrister, one, a Scotch office, by the appointment of an advocate, and one, Queen's Proctor, conferred on the Solicitor to the Treasury without salary.