§ MR. C. P. SCOTT (Lancashire, Leigh)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in possession of further information in regard to the proceedings at the quarter sessions for Bolton, on 12th July, in the case of the Standard Arms beer-house; and whether, in view of the facts of that case, he will take steps to insure the observance by the justices of Bolton of the provisions of Section 158 (1) of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882.
§ *MR. RITCHIEI am informed, as the result of inquiries, that the borough magistrates, although present and giving assistance as to the facts of the case, took no part in the decision of the court and did not act as justices within the enactment referred to. In view of that enactment, however, I cannot help regarding it as unfortunate that they took any part at all in the proceedings.