§ MR. CHANCEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there held the Commission of the Peace for the county Kilkenny, on the 1st March 1883, seventy-seven landlords, ten land agents, six military men, two county and one government officials, and five gentlemen of other occupations; whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists as to the personnel of the local magistracy; and, whether it is intended to take any steps to end the practical exclusion from the Commission of the Peace of all persons save landlords, land agents, and Government officials?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY)Dissatisfaction has, from time to time, been expressed with the personnel of the local magistracy in certain districts. The matter does not rest with the Executive Government; the selection of gentlemen for this office is not, in ordinary cases, made by the Lord Chancellor; the usual course being for the Lieutenant of a County to submit names for the Commission to the Lord Chancellor, who, if he sees no objection, appoints them. But the late Lord Chancellor (Sir Edward Sullivan) undertook to do more, and to inquire into allegations that the Lieutenant of a County had unreasonably declined to recommend a fit and proper person for the office, where the appointment of a magistrate was required. The present Lord Chancellor informs me that he will adopt the same course, and it will thus be open to representative bodies, if they fail to get the Lieutenant of a County to recommend any gentleman for the Commission, whom they desire, for good and sufficient reasons, to be appointed, to bring the case directly before the Lord Chancellor.
§ MR. CHANCEThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the first paragraph of my Question,
MR. JOHN MORLEYWell, Sir, if I have not answered it, it is because I have not the information at my disposal.