§ MR. LOWEsaid, he was desirous of putting a question to his hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury, but before doing so he wished to state a fact in order to render the question intelligible. By Act of Parliament the salaries of County Court Judges must be, at least, 1,200l. a year, and a power was given to raise them to 1,500l. in certain cases. Under this Act several of the Judges were receiving 1,500l. a year, others 1,300l., and others 1,200l. a year. He wished to ask his hon. Friend if the Government had any intention of taking steps to equalise the salaries paid?
§ MR. WILSONsaid, the question alluded to by his hon. Friend had, for the last two years, received great attention on the part of Government, and after the most careful consideration Government last year thought themselves justified, considering the great duties performed by some of the Judges, in raising their salaries to the highest point allowed by the Act of Parliament. In supplying these increased salaries, the whole of the funds placed at the disposal of Government had been exhausted. Applications had been received from other Judges for an increase, but he saw no reason for complying with their request, and even if there was one, there were no funds which might be made available.