§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the great importance of the decision of the House of Lords on the appeal case of "Sharpe v. Wakefield," and the desirability of removing any uncertainty as to the existing Law in regard to the renewal of licences, he will consent to print the full text of the Judgments delivered, and to deliver Copies to hon. Members of this House, and to the Magistrates' Clerks and Clerks of the Peace throughout England and Wales?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI do not think that the re-production of the newspaper reports as a Parliamentary Return would be advisable, as they would not necessarily have the authority and accuracy which in such a case would be essential. These Judgments will in due course appear in the most authoritative form in publications devoted to reporting the decisions of the Courts of Law. Such publications are well known and perfectly accessible to all Magistrates' Clerks and Clerks of the Peace.
§ SIR W. LAWSONWill the right hon. Gentleman instruct the Solicitor General to draw up a short abstract?
§ MR. MATTHEWSdid not reply.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware whether the decision given by the House of Lords overrules that given in the City of Dublin (Queen's Bench) to the contrary effect?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am afraid I am not sufficiently acquainted with both Judgments to be able to answer that question.