MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is a fact that the Dromore, County Tyrone, Bench of Magistrates is composed of nine Orangemen and one Roman Catholic, although an overwhelming majority of the people in the district are Roman Catholics; and whether he will draw 278 the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the matter with a view to having some Catholic Magistrates appointed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Lord Chancellor's Secretary informs me that the Dromore Bench appears to have been attended during the last three years by nine Local Justices. There is no information as to whether any of these Magistrates are Orangemen, nor as to the relative proportion of the religious denominations of the people in the district. I am also informed that the Vice Lieutenant of the county is always glad to consider the names of any properly-qualified Roman Catholics that may be submitted to him and the Lord Chancellor to give effect to such recommendations when made.