§ MR. WASON (Ayrshire, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what steps have been taken, or will be taken, with regard to Scotland, to carry out the Resolution of the House of Commons as to the appointment of Justices?
§ MR. COCHRANE (Ayrshire, N.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, I should like to ask him if he is aware that the hon. Member for South Ayrshire recently sent to the Lord Lieutenant of the County a recommendation that he should appoint 107 new Justices of the Peace, of whom 5 were Liberal Unionists, 5 Conservatives, and 96 supporters of the present Government? Is it on this principle the right hon. Gentleman proposes to deal with this question?
§ MR. WASONI beg to state that the hon. Member for North Ayrshire is totally misinformed. There is not the slightest truth in his suggestion. What took place was this. The hon. Member for Kilmarnock, the hon. Member for the Ayr Burghs, and myself, acting with the Chairman of the Ayrshire Liberal Association, sent in a list first to the Lord Lieutenant and then to the Lord Chancellor. That list has been very much cut down, and, in all, only 20 new Magistrates have been appointed.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN, Glasgow, Bridgeton)The system of appointment of Justices for Scotland is essentially the same as that for England and Wales, on 1814 which questions are to-day put to the First Lord of the Treasury; and I shall, therefore, be obliged if my hon. Friend will put his question to the right hon. Gentleman.