§ MR. BOULNOISI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the trial of appeals, under "The Valuation (Metropolis) Act, 1869," is a portion only of the additional work imposed upon Sir Peter Edlin, as Chairman of the London Quarter Sessions, by "The Local Government Act, 1888," after 17 years' previous judicial service; whether, in. the opinion of the Government, it is just and fair that he should be subjected to this heavy increase of labour, after such long prior service, without additional pay; and more especially as, unlike every other Judge performing similar duties, he is not entitled to any pension; and whether it is a fact that the Secretary of State has declined to sanction. the salary that the London County Council proposed to pay, thus leaving this important office entirely unremunerated for two years past.
§ MR. MATTHEWSSir Peter Edlin has, no doubt, performed additional work with respect to rating appeals and otherwise; but for this the Local Government Act provides some relief by enabling additional Courts of Quarter Sessions to be held. The amount of salary is a matter 681 left by the Act to the County Council. I have no power to increase what they propose, and, therefore, I do not feel called upon to express any opinion on the subject. It is at the request of Sir Peter Edlin, and after communication with members of the County Council, that I have delayed sanctioning the proposal of the County Council.