§ MR. MARRIOTTasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether Her Majesty's Government, having regard to the fact that six of Her Majesty's judges have been appointed to try Election Petitions during the months of June and July, and that there are at the present time 674 causes standing for trial at Westminster, intend to propose any, and, if any, what measures, for the purpose of facilitating the despatch of legal business in the Metropolis between the present time and the Long Vacation?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)in reply, said, it was true that at the present time 674 causes were standing in the Nisi Prius list for trial at Westminster; but many of them were merely put there formally, and were never intended to go to trial. On the other hand, the arrears of judicial business in banc were unusually light. Six Election Judges would for a time be absent from Westminster; but it was 528 hoped that by the commencement of July four would be able to return, and that two would be sufficient to try the remaining Election Petitions. Under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government were not aware of any measures that could be taken to facilitate the despatch of legal business, except by the appointment of fresh Judges,—a course which should not be taken except in case of extreme necessity, of which there was no evidence at the present time.