§ MR. ARTHUR J. MOORE (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many Protestant and how many Roman Catholic magistrates there 1521 are in Derry city; and whether the Irish Government are prepared to take all reasonable steps to redress any inequality, and afford a due representation on the bench to the majority of the inhabitants of the city.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe number of magistrates in the city of Londonderry is forty-eight, of whom eighteen are Presbyterians, seventeen Roman Catholics, eight Protestant Episcopalians, four are Methodists, and one is a Baptist. I am not prepared to admit that the religion of the majority of the inhabitants should be the determining factor in the appointment of magistrates, but if the hon. Member desires to submit to the Lord Lieutenant the names of any eligible candidates for the position his suggestions would, of course, receive consideration.