§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true, as stated in The Standard of 26th July, that t has been decided to retire a number of the senior Resident Magistrates, and to fill their places with younger men, who will be better able to undertake the onerous duties involved in the operation of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Act; and, whether the Government has selected persons for this purpose of the sufficiency of whose legal knowledge the Lord Chancellor is satisfied?
MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)also asked, in reference to the administration of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Act, Whether it is true, as stated in The Daily News of 26th July, 1887, that it has been resolved to retire a number of the senior Resident Magistrates, and to fill their places at once with young and active men; how many Resident Magistrates are about to retire; whether the retirement is to be compulsory or voluntary; how many new appointments to the post of Resident Magistrate do the Government intend to make; are Resident Magistrates in Ireland appointed by the Warrant of the Lord Lieutenant; do they hold their offices not for a stated period, but during the pleasure of the Government, and are they liable to instant dismissal without cause assigned, or without pension or compensation; would the right hon. Gentleman have any, and, if so, what, objection to lay upon the Table of the House a list of the gentlemen who are to fill these appointments, with their antecedent occupations, and their qualifications for exercising judicial functions of a novel and difficult character?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: It is the case that four Resident Magistrates have been called upon to retire. They will receive the pensions 363 to which their respective periods of service entitle them. Resident Magistrates in Ireland are appointed by Warrant of the Lord Lieutenant. They hold office during pleasure. No appointments have been made in regard to the vacancies about to be created. The Government cannot undertake to lay upon the Table the list suggested. It has been laid down by successive Governments that the selection of persons to fill public offices is a duty of which the Government for the time being cannot divest themselves, and in the discharge of which they act under a full sense of their responsibility in the matter.
MR. MAC NEILLHow many new appointments to the post of Resident Magistrate do the Government intend to make?
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)How many of those senior Resident Magistrates who are to be retired are Roman Catholics?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANI have not the least idea.
MR. MAC NEILLI must press for an answer to my Question. How many new appointments do the Government intend to make?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANThey have made none; but I suppose they will make as many as are necessary.
§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked, if it was intended to make Mr. Newton, the London police magistrate, an Irish Resident Magistrate?
§ MR. CHANCE (Kilkenny, S.)asked the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to give the names of the four gentlemen who were to retire?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid that if the hon. Gentleman would give Notice of the Question he would see whether the information could be given.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)asked, if Mr. Cecil Roche, who was only temporarily appointed last year after an election speech, had been specially promoted owing to the fact that the other day he had the firmness to decline the presentation of a salmon?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of this Question.