§ MR. DARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has observed that in the Times of Tuesday last it is stated, on the authority of an officer of the High Court of Justice, that it has happened several times lately that a Judge has been obliged to take holiday because there was nowhere for him to sit, and that on Monday last two Judges were not sitting at all, and that, had they desired to do so, no place could have been found for them in the Royal Courts of Justice; and whether the Government will propose such structural additions as 800 shall make the Courts adequate to the requirements of the Judges, or will take appropriate steps to reduce the number of Judges into accordance with the number of the Courts?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHIt was so stated in the Times, and there is no doubt that the number of Courts is insufficient at times under existing arrangements. The subject will be brought under the attention of the First Commissioner of Works. There is no intention of reducing the number of Judges. Whenever any of the Judges sit at the Guildhall under the Act of this Session relief will, to that extent, be experienced at the Royal Courts of Justice.
§ *MR. DARLINGMay I ask the Government whether, if they cannot add to the accommodation of the Law Courts, they will consider the expediency of Judges reverting to the ancient practice of sitting in the open air for the transaction of business?
§ [No answer was returned.]