HC Deb 07 June 1837 vol 38 cc1244-5

The House then went into Committee on the Common law Courts Bill.

On the 10th Clause,

Mr. D. W. Harvey

said, the object of this Bill was to get rid of a number of useless offices, and to create others that were necessary. He particularly objected to the power this Bill gave to appoint three masters more than were recommended by the Commissioners, and designated their appointment a judicial job. It was a subject of suspicion that the judges had been reconciled to the extensive reforms proposed in this Bill by the prospect of patronage that was held out to them. The judges were to have the appointment of five masters in each court, with salaries of 1,200l. a-year each. He found, that some of the masters were even named in the Bill. The two principal judges in two of the courts had appointed their nephews.

Mr. Sergeant Goulburn

supported the Bill, and defended the appointment of the masters by the judges. The question was, whether those appointed were competent individuals or not. The five officers stood in the place of fifteen others, whose offices the Bill would abolish.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said, that as regarded the number of masters, he had communicated with those best able to form an opinion, amongst whom were the Commissioners and the judges, and they were unanimously of opinion that the number necessary was the number named in the Bill.

Clause agreed to.

Mr. Harvey moved, as an amendment, that the salaries of the masters be reduced to 800l. a-year.

The Committee divided on the original clause:— Ayes 30; Noes 12; Majority 18.

List of the AYES.
Aglionby, H. A. Lowther, J. H.
Balfour, T. Macleod, R.
Cayley, E. S. Murray, rt. hon. J. A.
Forbes, W. Parry, Sir L. P. J.
Forster, C. S. Rice, right hon. T. S.
Freshfield, J. W. Richards, R.
Gaskell, James Milnes Rolfe, Sir R. M.
Goulburn, rt. hon. H. Stewart, P. M.
Hanmer, Sir J. Stuart, Lord D.
Hay, Sir A. L. Stormont, Viscount
Howard, P. H. Talfourd, Sergeant
Ingham, R. Tancred, H. W.
Jones, W. Young, J.
Law, hon. C. E.
Lefevre, C. S. TELLERS.
Lennox, Lord G. Baring, F. T.
Lennox, Lord A. Goulburn, Sergeant
List of the NOES.
Brotherton, J. Rundle, J.
Duncombe, T. Thompson, Colonel
Grattan, H. Vigors, N. A.
Hector, C. J. Wallace, R.
Marsland, H.
Mostyn, hon. E. TELLERS.
Pease, J. Harvey, D. W.
Pechell, Captain Warburton, H.

The House resumed; the Report to be brought up.