HC Deb 31 July 1888 vol 329 cc952-3
MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a statement in The North Down Herald, of July 13, that no magistrate attended to hold the Potty Sessions at Newtownards Courthouse on Thursday, July 12; whether he can state the cause of their non-attendance; and, whether he will direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the matter, in order that magistrates may be appointed who will attend to their duties in this district?

MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the Question, I wish to ask whether it is in accordance with the usages of the House that a Question put and answered yesterday should also be put the next day?

MR. M'CARTAN

The Question was not answered yesterday, as the right hon. Gentleman had not got the information. The only attempt at answering the Question was that made by the hon. Member for South Belfast.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I am informed that the non-holding of the Petty Sessions in question was principally due to the necessary absence of the Resident Magistrate, who was on duty at Downpatrick in charge of the police, and also that some of the Local Justices had to attend the assembly of the County Grand Jury that day. I am further informed that the attendance of Local Justices at these Petty Sessions is regular and large, the Bench being sometimes overcrowded. There does not, therefore, appear to be any ground to adopt the course suggested.

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

May I ask, whether the Magistrate who usually presides over these Petty Sessions is the Lord Lieutenant's agent, Mr. Brownlow; and whether he was absent on that day, attending an Orange meeting; and whether a great number of solicitors, and suitors, and witnesses were fruitlessly in attendance; and, whether the right hon. Gentleman will take any steps to prevent a recurrence of such great public inconvenience without reasonable cause?

MR. JOHNSTON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he has any reason to believe that the Nationalist solicitors were there on purpose to make a grievance?

COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)

May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is a fact that Mr. Brownlow, the Lord Lieutenant's agent, is the magistrate who usually presides over these Sessions?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not acquainted with the particular facts in relation to the several Questions which have been asked without Notice; but from the facts which have been brought to my notice, and which have been communicated to the House, it would appear to me that there seems to be no such general inconvenience suffered by suitors as would justify the action suggested.