§ MR. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the resolution unanimously adopted by the Council of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce complaining of the inadequate emoluments of the two resident magistrates at present in charge of the city; whether he is aware that these two resident magistrates are men of good standing and experience at the Bar, and that, owing to the extension of the city boundaries, the amount of police court business has enormously increased, and that their salaries are much under the scale for Dublin, where the duties are considerably lighter; and whether, seeing that the Council have resolved that the scale in Belfast must be considerably raised if first-class men are to be attracted to the position, he will have the matter fully considered with the view of carrying out the feelings of the Chamber of Commerce and the citizens in this regard.
§ *MR. DAVITT (Mayo, E.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask whether in fact the salaries paid to Irish resident magistrates are not as a rule too high, considering the slight duties they have to perform, and are there not too many of these magistrates, considering the present crimeless condition of Ireland?
§ *MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Is it not a fact that this subject was brought under the right hon. Gentleman's notice by Members connected with Belfast a considerable time ago, and that he was favourably inclined to consider it, provided hon. Gentlemen opposite offered no opposition?
§ *MR. G. W. BALFOURYes, it is the fact, as mentioned by the hon. Member for South Belfast, that this matter has been previously under my notice. My attention has been directed to the resolution referred to, but I am not prepared to admit that the ease of the two resi 768 dent magistrates at Belfast is exactly comparable with that of the divisional magistrates of Dublin. If the position of the resident magistrates at Belfast is to be improved legislation would be necessary for the purpose, and I should require to be assured that any measure dealing with the case would be treated as absolutely non-controversial by all sections before I could consent even to consider the question of introducing a Bill during the present session.