MR. GOLDSMIDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, On what grounds it has been recommended to the Lord Chancellor to add three magistrates to the Rochester City Bench; if he is aware that the late Lord Chancellor declined to appoint any because sixteen acting magistrates (including the ex officio members) were alleged by him to be more than sufficient to attend to the business; and, whether any previous communication on the subject was made to the Mayor and Corporation of the City?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, he had communicated with his noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on the subject, and found that he had appointed the three magistrates in question to the Bench because he believed they were persons who were highly eligible for the office, and because he learnt that two magistrates out of 13 were unable to attend from ill-health; while there were two vacancies from death. His noble and learned Friend had no information with respect to the late Lord Chancellor having declined to make any appointments. If, he might add, the Question had been put with a view to show that there was any political bias with reference to the Rochester Bench, he would only say that out of the 13 magistrates, nine belonged to the Liberal party.