HC Deb 09 November 1882 vol 274 cc1108-9
MR. TOTTENHAM

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case that a number of the resident magistrates in Ireland have recently been informed by the Lord Lieutenant that he had no further occasion for their services, and were dismissed from their offices without reason or cause being assigned; if it is true that several of these gentlemen, being still in the prime of life, and under sixty years of age, protested against such proceeding as arbitrary, and requested to be informed on what grounds they were removed, but received no reply beyond being informed that the decision of the Lord Lieutenant was final; if it is also true that some of them requested to be granted an interview either with the Lord Lieutenant or the Under Secretary, and were refused; whether there is any precedent for the course which has been adopted; and, whether there is any objection to lay upon the Table the Correspondence which has taken place on the subject between the Under Secretary and Major Percy, Captain Wynne, and Mr. Denvehy?

MR. TREVELYAN

Twelve Resident Magistrates have recently been required to retire. It was the same retirement as that which was announced to the House at the earlier part of the Session. Of these, seven were superannuated on the ground of age, it being stated in the letter sent to them that the Lord Lieutenant considered it essential that gentlemen of advanced age should no longer remain in active service as Resident Magistrates. Five others were required to retire, as it was considered desirable to replace them by more efficient men. Four of the five protested against retirement, and were informed that His Excellency found himself unable to alter his decision, which had been arrived at after careful consideration. Two of these gentlemen had interviews both with the Lord Lieutenant and the Under Secretary. In one case, the magistrate who applied for an interview was informed that His Excellency did not think any good result would follow from an interview. There are numerous precedents for the course which has been adopted, which is entirely within the spirit of the provisions of Clause 7 of the Superannuation Act of 1859. It is not usual to lay copies of such Correspondence on the Table, and I think I must decline to do so in this case, but merely on the ground that it would be establishing a precedent.

MR. TOTTENHAM

said, he would bring the subject before the House at the earliest opportunity.