MR. H. ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether any steps have been, or will be, taken by Her Majesty's Government to carry out, so far as Wales is concerned, the Resolution of this House with regard to the appointment of County Magistrates?
§ MR. DODD (Essex, Maldon)I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Her Majesty's Government is able to carry out in England the Resolution of this House with regard to the appointment of County Magistrates; and, if so, what steps have been, or will be, taken in order to do so?
§ MR. BEITH (Inverness, &c.)I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Her Majesty's Government is able to carry out in Scotland the Resolution of this House with regard to the appointment of County Magistrates or Justices of the Peace: and, if so, what steps have been, or will be, taken to give effect to the said Resolution?
§ MR. WASONAnd I hope the right hon. Gentleman will, at the same time, answer the question which I addressed to the Secretary for Scotland.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE, Edinburgh, Midlothian)What I have to say on behalf of the Lord Chancellor is this: I am not at all surprised at the anxiety that is felt upon the subject in different quarters. It is very natural that it should be so, and that those gentlemen who locally are anxious for a modification in the composition of the Magisterial Bench, and who know that the principle has been affirmed by the House of Commons with the assent of the Government in precise terms, should desire to see the fruits of that Resolution as early as possible. At the same time, I hope I may be allowed to make certain observations. First of all, gentlemen have to bear in mind that while each set of persons may be disposed to think of their own county in particular as if it stood alone—which, of course, was the case with the County Palatine of Lancaster—in point of fact 1829 there are a very large number of counties which have to be dealt with. The process is a very complex one, requiring a very large amount of labour, which it is quite necessary that the Lord Chancellor should perform in the most careful manner. If he were to exhibit any haste in the selection of individuals, and if, in consequence of that haste, the selection were found to be in any case unsatisfactory, we might find out that in this case, as in many others, according to the proverb, the most haste makes the worst speed. It must also be borne in mind that my noble and learned Friend has many other duties to perform, which, of course, he cannot put aside, and likewise that, although the Resolution of the House of Commons has been most useful as an index of opinion, and so far has been a guide to the Lord Chancellor, yet his responsibility in the matter remains entirely where it was before, and he cannot throw any part of the responsibility for undue precipitancy on the House of Commons. Finally, let me observe this, which I think is material. The Lord Chancellor has been very desirous—and I think most properly desirous—of doing as much as possible of the work which has to be done in concert with, and even through the medium of, the Lord Lieutenants. I believe many of the Lord Lieutenants have felt that the manifestation of opinion in this House was an important matter which they could not properly disregard; and I think the Lord Chancellor has been very wise in determining, as far as is possible, to proceed in concert with them. But that is not the limit of his action. The general answer I have to make is that the Lord Chancellor is giving to the subject all the attention which he possibly can, and a very considerable number of Magistrates have been appointed in consequence of the movement associated with the Resolution of the House of Commons, and he will give continuous attention to the matter.
§ MR. MACFARLANEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that lists were forwarded to the Lord Chancellor many months ago, and that no steps have been taken?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONELists have been prepared, no doubt, on both sides; but this is a matter which cannot be disposed of like the signing of a receipt. 1830 Regard must be had to the nature of the work which has to be done. Lord Herschell, I may fairly say, without making any undue claim, is an active and efficient worker, and he is doing all that can be done in this important matter.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many Magistrates have been appointed by the present Lord Chancellor for the County of London; and whether the Lord Chancellor is prepared to appoint an adequate number of fit persons as Magistrates for the County of London without requiring that they should all be nominees of the Lord Lieutenant of that county?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Lord Chancellor has appointed 33 Magistrates for the County of London, and is prepared to appoint an adequate number of fit persons as the necessity arises. I am informed by him that he does not consider it necessary at present to contemplate making such appointments without the consent of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, inasmuch as he has not experienced any difficulty in making appointments in London in concert with the Lord Lieutenant.
§ MR. DODDI beg to ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Resolution of the House was that appointments "should no longer be made only on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant"?
§ MR. ASQUITHYes, Sir; I am aware.