§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNE (Staffordshire, Lichfield)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 1466 whether he is aware that on 30th December, 1890, the. Justices' Clerk of the City and County of the City of Lichfield called the attention of the Lichfield Town Council to the existence of seven vacancies on the Bench of Magistrates, and suggested the expediency of adding the names of qualified gentlemen on the Commission of the Peace; whether he is aware that a Memorial was thereupon presented by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of the City and County of the City of Lichfield to the Lord Chancellor, recommending the names of seven citizens to fill the existing vacancies; if he will explain why for sixteen months no notice was taken of this Memorial, when a commission was returned to the city containing the name of only one of the seven gentlemen recommended by the Memorialists; whether he is aware that the action of the Lord Chancellor in this matter has caused great dissatisfaction in the City of Lichfield; and whether he can state what steps, if any, are to be taken to give effect to the wishes of the Memorialists?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am informed by the Lord Chancellor that about the time stated his attention was called to the state of the Bench at Lichfield. His Lordship, in discharge of the responsibility which rests entirely upon him in this matter, after careful inquiry and consideration, came to the conclusion that an addition of three Justices was sufficient for the requirements of the case.
§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, did the Lord Chancellor receive another Memorial, not from the Town Council?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware.
§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNEThere is a general impression that a counter-Memorial was sent.