§ DR. FOX (King's Co., Tullamore)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Lord Chancellor has received a requisition from the Board of Town Commissioners of Tullamore, asking for the re-appointment of Mr. Henry Egan to the Commission of the Peace, for the purpose of the Towns Improvement Act; and, whether there is any special objection to his re-appointment?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Lord 557 Chancellor of Ireland has favoured me with a statement, to the effect that last December he received the requisition alluded to; but that he declined to make the appointment. In so declining he acted in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by law.
§ DR. FOXasked, was it not a fact that after the re-election of Mr. Egan to the Chairmanship of the Town Commissioners of Tullamore he was allowed to act as magistrate; and that it was only when acting in his capacity as Visiting Justice at Tullamore Gaol in connection with some of the right hon. Gentleman's political opponents that the Lord Chancellor struck him off the list?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that, may I ask whether Mr. Egan had any right to visit as a Visiting Justice?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, if Mr. Egan acted as a magistrate he acted on his own responsibility, and he had no title whatever to do so.
§ DR. FOXasked, was it not the fact that there was no magistrate in Tullamore for the purpose of the Towns Improvement Act; and, also, whether it was the intention of the Lord Chancellor to appoint Mr. Egan?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I cannot answer that Question.