§ MR. MACARTNEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Dome Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. James M'Grigor, J.P., one of the recently-appointed Borough Justices for West Hartlepool, who was fined 5s. and costs for allowing his refreshment house to be open for the sale of fried fish during prohibited hours on Christmas morning; and what steps the Lord Chancellor proposes to take?
§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)also had the following Question on the Paper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on Monday last, the 8th inst., at West Hartlepool, Mr. James M'Grigor, one of the recently-appointed Borough Justices for West Hartlepool, was fined 5s. and costs for allowing his refreshment house to be open for the sale of fried fish during prohibited hours on Christmas morning; and what stops do the Government propose taking in this case?
§ MR. DODD (Essex, Maldon)May I ask what is the statute which prohibits the sale of goods in Hartlepool, and whether it applies to other parts of the country?
§ MR. ASQUITHThere is a Statute which prohibits the opening of refreshment, houses during certain hours on Sunday and Christmas Day, but without notice I cannot give my hon. Friend the reference. The hon. Member for Rotherhithe has a question on the Paper on the same subject as the hon. Member for Antrim. Perhaps he will allow me to answer him at the same time. It is true that Mr. M'Grigor was fined for keeping his refreshment house open during prohibited hours; but, after considering the evidence, I see no reason for taking any further action in the matter.
§ MR. MACARTNEYWas not the Magistrate in question himself engaged in serving out fish at 3 o'clock in the morning; and is it not the case that on the occasion referred to he was sitting on the Bench and retired from the Bench while his case was being heard, bill returned after the case had been adjudicated upon.
§ MR. ASQUITHIf he did, I see no objection whatever.
§ DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)May I ask whether occasional appointments have not been made to the Judicial Bench—not recently made—which have turned out to be equally fishy with this one?
§ [No answer was given.]