§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has recently sent a communication to the London magistrates respecting the summary powers of landlords to evict their tenants, and upon the construction of the Small Tenements Recovery Act, 1838; and, if so, will he state why this communication was sent, and will he lay a copy of the circular upon the Table of the House.
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYThe question presumably refers to a letter which was written to the late Sir John Bridge on the 25th of January, 1899, with regard to the construction of the first section of the Act. Different views are taken on the question whether the warrant referred to in the concluding words of the section is valid for execution forthwith or not till twenty-one days after its issue. It appeared that at some of the metropolitan police courts the former view was taken, and at others the latter. Sir John Bridge took the view that the warrant is valid forthwith, though the court may allow its operation to be suspended. This interpretation is supported by the opinion of Sir John Jervis and Sir John Romilly when Law Officers of the Crown, and the Lord Chancellor agrees with it. The letter I have men- 1338 tioned requested Sir John Bridge to bring the Lord Chancellor's opinion to the notice of his colleagues, in order, if possible, to obtain their concurrence in the adoption of a uniform principle in the administration of the Act at all the police courts.