HC Deb 23 May 1890 vol 344 cc1677-8
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether a Post Office Circular was issued on 4th June, 1889, giving rural postmen in Ireland the option of starting on their return journeys one hour after their arrival at their respective destinations on bank holidays, and thus reducing their hours on duty; and whether this Circular has been acted upon; and, if not, would he explain on what grounds?

* THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge University

Yes, Sir, such a Circular was issued, and has been acted upon throughout England and Wales; but I understand bank holidays are not generally observed in Scotland and Ireland; and it has not, therefore, become necessary to apply it to either of those parts of the United Kingdom.

MR. HUGH GRAHAM,

J.P.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether Mr. Hugh Graham, J.P, of Dromore, County Tyrone, recently suspended by the Lord Chancellor on charges of drunkenness and threatened assault, has yet been dismissed from the Commission of the Peace; and, if not, can he explain which of his magisterial functions Mr. Graham is forbidden to discharge by his suspension, and what is the distinction drawn between his case and that of Mr. George Sandes, J.P., recently dismissed from the Commission of the Peace by the Lord Chancellor, on the grounds that his retention in that capacity would not be in the interest of the Public Service?

MR. MADDEN

Mr. Hugh Graham, J. P., of Dromore, County Tyrone, has not been dismissed from the Commission of the Peace, as the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, after full consideration of all the circumstances of the case, was of opinion that the facts did not call for such a course. There was no charge of threatened assault, but of two cases of alleged intoxication. His suspension precludes him from sitting on the Magisterial Bench until further orders, meanwhile his conduct being under the Lord Chancellor's observation. The different decisions arrived at by the Lord Chancellor in the two cases referred to were arrived at after a full review of the facts disclosed in each case.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Is this gentleman, in the meantime, discharging magisterial functions which do not relate to the administration of justice?

MR. MADDEN

He has been suspended from the discharge of all his magisterial functions.