§ VISCOUNT CRICHTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If that portion of the Irish Judicature Bill dealing with the District Registrars of the Court of Probate was submitted to the Judge of that Court before its introduction into this House, in accordance with the pledge given last year by the late Chief Secretary, in reply to a Question, that any Bill dealing with such Registrars would be so submitted; if not, why was this pledge not fulfilled; and, whether any, and, if so, which, of the Judges were so consulted?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI find that my right hon. Predecessor did say in March last year that the Judge of the Court of Probate would be consulted as to proposals which were then in contemplation affecting the District Registries of his Court. The Lord Chancellor had previously communicated 283 to the Judge the intentions of the Government on this subject, and the proposals then in view are embodied in the present Bill, which deals with the whole judicature. The precise statement of the late Chief Secretary was overlooked; but the Government will be quite willing to consider any objections which the Judge of the Court of Probate may now offer to the poposals of the Bill in the points referred to.
§ MR. GIBSONIs it intended to submit these parts of the Bill to the Judge of the Court of Probate for his approbation?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not know whether it is intended that the Bill should be submitted to him as it is now before the House. If the Judge of the Court of Probate has any observations to make, they will be carefully considered.