§ MR. WOODS (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the District Council of Walthamstow have been endeavouring for some time past to get a weekly court of petty sessions established at Walthamstow; and whether, having regard to the fact that the population of Walthamstow now amounts to 90,000, and is increasing, that the court house at Stratford is three miles from Walthamstow, and that the police and others interested suffer inconvenience by travelling this distance, which entails loss of time, he will advise the establishment of a weekly petty sessions court at Walthamstow; and, if 1315 not, would he be prepared to meet a deputation, in order that the question might be fully considered.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolThe establishment of a new petty sessional court is a matter for the discretion of the magistrates in quarter sessions, and with their discretion I have no authority to interfere. I do not, therefore, think that any useful purpose would be served by receiving a deputation.