§ MR. BRIDGEMAN (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the Prime Minister by what process the Lord Chancellor has ascertained the political views of the existing justices of the peace; whether, in view of the fact that the Lord Chancellor regards the preponderance of Conservative magistrates as a great evil, it is proposed to impose a political test upon those who may in future be proposed for appointment as magistrates; and, if so, what method will be adopted to carry it out.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling BurghsThe fact that existing justices of the peace in the counties are by a a very great majority Conservatives is notorious and has never been disputed. What the Lord Chancellor regards as a great evil is this great disparity, and he would equally deprecate a similar disparity on the other side. The question in regard to a test is evidently not put seriously.
§ MR. BRIDGEMANHow does the Lord Chancellor propose to make the disparity less without a test?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI should think by redressing the balance of political opinion as well as he can.
§ MR. BRIDGEMANHow is he to I find out?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThere is no difficulty in finding out that which is notorious.