§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true, as currently reported, that Resident Magistrates in the counties of Limerick and Clare have protested against being further subject to the orders of Mr. Clifford Lloyd; whether a large number of the Irish resident magistrates have either tendered their resignations, or been invited by the Irish Executive to retire on pension; and, whether, in reorganising the stipendiary magistracy in Ireland, the Executive will endeavour to obtain the services of persons trained in the practice of the Law, and who may be reasonably expected to be free from prejudice as between class and class in Ireland?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, there is no truth in the report alluded to in the first paragraph of the Question. There has not been any official protests from the Resident Magistrates in reference to Mr. Clifford Lloyd. With regard to the second paragraph, opportunities of retirement of the exceptionally favourable nature known as "terms of retirement on abolition of office" have been offered by Circular to all Resident Magistrates, so that His Excellency may be able, in the forthcoming re-organization of the Irish Stipendiary Magistracy, to give effect, so far as is consistent with the public interests, to the wishes of individual magistrates who may desire to retire. With regard to the final paragraph, His Excellency is desirous of obtaining the services of persons trained in the practice of the law when such persons also possess other qualifications which are necessary for the post.
§ MR. SEXTONsaid, the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland had not answered the closing part of the Question, as to freedom from class prejudices.
§ MR. TREVELYANThat, of course, is a most important qualification, which the Lord Lieutenant will see to.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORIf there were no official protests in reference to Mr. 915 Clifford Lloyd, were there any unofficial protests?
§ After a pause—
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORI suppose I may interpret the right hon. Gentleman's silence as an assent?
§ MR. TREVELYANI think it only fair to Mr. Clifford Lloyd to state that every change in a public Department causes a good deal of criticism by persons who are connected with those changes, and, of course, those criticisms come to the authorities. That is only human nature.