§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether it was true that in course of the evidence recently given before the Crawford Commission certain native magistrates, under promise of indemnity from the Bombay Government, gave evidence that they had corruptly purchased their judicial appointments and promotion; whether it is the case that the Judges of the Bombay High Court, Justices Jardine and Birdwood, who are specially responsible for the representatives of inferior courts and offices, have sent to the Bombay Government minutes pointing out the illegality of maintaining on the bench magistrates who had corruptly purchased appointments and promotion, and its fatal effect upon the public estimation of our Law Courts if permitted to be presided over by such men; whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any steps to prevent a continuation of the scandal against which the Judges of the Bombay 129 High Court protest; and, whether the Minutes of Justices Jardine and Bird-wood, together with a Minute endorsing them by Mr. Justice Scott, having been published in the Press of India, he will lay them before the House?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe Papers in the Crawford Case, including Mr. Crawford's Memorial, arrived by mail yesterday. They are being dealt with with the utmost promptitude consistent with a due consideration of the important issues involved. The Secretary of State is of opinion that any statement at this moment in Parliament on the subject would be detrimental to the interests of the public service.
§ DR. CAMERONWill the hon. Gentleman present Papers on the particular branch of the case to which my question refers?
§ SIR J. GORSTThat branch is a very important part of the case, and among other branches it is undergoing careful and anxious consideration. I cannot make any promise as to Papers.
§ DR. CAMERONThen I will take an opportunity of calling attention to these Papers, as they appear in the Indian Press.