HC Deb 21 March 1895 vol 31 cc1550-1
MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statement that the Master of the Rolls, in the Appeal Court on Saturday 16th March, in the case of Lord Thurlow, to the effect that there was evidently something behind the action of the Official Receiver in appealing against the order of Mr. Registrar Linklater, refusing to adjudicate the debtor bankrupt; and also to the effect that no Official Receiver had any right to interfere, except under the order and directions of the Court; and that no Department of the Government had any right to interfere, it was the Court above which could interfere; and whether the Department of the Board of Trade had given to the Official Reciver any instructions or directions with reference to his interference in this case, or had authorised him so to interfere, or had empowered him to incur costs or other expenses in regard to such interference?

MR. BRYCE

My attention has been called to the matter referred to, but I have as yet only seen a brief and necessarily imperfect report in the newspapers of the judgment. The appeal from the Registrar's decision, refusing to adjudicate Lord Thurlow a bankrupt, was taken and conducted as such appeals always are, on the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown; but I am not aware that the Official Receiver in any way interfered in the matter except by exercising the ordinary right of appeal which he is entitled to do without any directions from the Court, and which it is obviously proper that he should do upon the opinion of the Law Officers. The costs incurred in the appeal were sanctioned in accordance with the usual practice by the Board of Trade.

MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES

Had the Official Receiver the authorisation of the Board of Trade to incur costs before starting any of the proceedings?

MR. BRYCE

The Official Receiver had the opinion of the Law Officers and the sanction of the Board of Trade.

MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean the Attorney and Solicitor Generals?

MR. BRYCE

Certainly.