§ MR. T. E. ELLIS (Merionethshire)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that the Justices at the Special Sessions at Ruthin affirmed, on Friday, 8th July, that they had no power to authorize the payment to the defendants and their witnesses in the Llangwm tithes trials of the expenses consequent on the trial being held at Ruthin instead of in their own Petty Sessional Division of Cerrig-y-Druidion; and, whether the Treasury will undertake to pay the expenses necessitated by the change in the place of trial? He also wished to know, why the Public Prosecutor had instituted this trial after a general inquiry had been promised; and whether it was usual or regular to change the place of trial at the instance of the prosecution?
§ MR. KENYON (Denbigh, &c.)asked, whether it was not the case that Cerrig-y-Druidion was a long distance from any railway communication; and whether it was not the fact that all the witnesses and people concerned in this trial could be far more easily accommodated at Ruthin?
§ MR. BOWEN ROWLANDS (Cardiganshire)asked whether it was not the case that some of the prisoners would have to go 20 miles from their homes to Ruthin?
§ THE SECETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)In answer to the Question on the Paper, I am not aware whether the Justices made the statement suggested by the hon. Member; but I am advised that they had no power to authorize the payment of the expenses of the defendants. They can give a certificate on which payment of the expenses of the defendants' witnesses are afterwards paid. The Treasury have no power under the Statutes to pay the expenses of the defendants before the Justices, and there is no precedent for their doing so. In answer to the further question put to me by the hon. Member, the inquiry that is going to take place about the tithe rent-charge disturbances in North Wales cannot possibly supersede or take the place of a prosecution on a criminal charge brought against a number of defendants under the ordinary Criminal Law. The place of trial has not been changed, being still within the jurisdiction of the magistrate. I am not able to state where all the prisoners live. They are, I think, 31 in number, and many of them live at considerable distances from any Court House. The accommodation at Cerrig-y-Druidion is totally insufficient and inadequate for the number of persons concerned.
§ In reply to Mr. PULESTON (Devonport),
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, that no final appointment had yet been made of Sub-Commissioners or Secretary to the Commission of Inquiry.