§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)In the absence of the noble Lord the Member for West Down, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if Dromara is the usual Petty Sessions where Mr. Murray, of Ballynahinch, lately appointed one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Down, was expected to attend; if it be true that Mr. Murray, at Petty Sessions in Dromara on the 19th June last, assisted in adjudicating in a prosecution for trespass in pursuit of game, and whilst acting as a Magistrate and during the hearing of the said prosecution, said he regarded the Game Laws as a relic of barbarism; and if such language was used by him, will the Lord Chancellor's attention be directed to it, with a view to his considering whether such expressions from the Bench of individual opinions condemnatory of the Statute Laws are consistent with the obligation taken by 762 Mr. Murray, as one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, to administer said laws as at present in force?
MR. J. MORLEYAs the question appeared on the Paper only this morning I hope the hon. Member will be good enough to postpone it.
§ MR. M'CARTANAs the question has appeared on the Paper may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that Mr. Murray is one of the most respected men in the County Down, and that his appointment was approved by the Lord Lieutenant of the county and has given satisfaction to every class except the landlords. Was he not merely expressing an opinion with regard to the Game Laws which is generally entertained by people throughout Ireland?
§ [The question was not answered.]