§ Lord Althorptook this opportunity of answering a question twice put to him on former days; it was, whether Ministers intended to introduce any measure for the establishment of Local Courts? He was now enabled to state, that such was the intention of the Government, and they thought it best that the Bill for the purpose should originate in that House.
Mr. O'Connellwas glad to hear of this determination. No measure was better calculated to give relief to the King's subjects than the establishment of Local Courts. He might, perhaps, be allowed to advert to the new Rules sent to the House by the Judges. However humble might be his opinion, he felt bound to say, that it was very adverse to those regulations. By them an enormous power over a vast amount of property was given to the Judges in matters of costs; and he should be able to demonstrate that some of the rules would tend very much to multiply suits, instead of making one action final. They also left the doctrine of special demurrers, as at present; and special demurrers, or pleadings upon points merely formal, were a disgrace to the law of the land.
The Solicitor Generalwould not enter into the discussion until the subject should be regularly brought before the House; but he was satisfied that the Rules would do more to simplify the law, and to facilitate the administration of justice, than any legislative measure that could be adopted.
Mr. O'Connellasked whether the hon. 211 and learned Gentleman meant to bring them under the consideration of the House?
The Solicitor Generalreplied, that those who, like himself, approved of the Rules, would, of course, not bring them forward. If they remained on the table six weeks without change, they were to have the force of law. It was for those who objected to them to direct the attention of the House to the subject.
§ The conversation was dropped.