HC Deb 19 December 1906 vol 167 cc1526-8
MR. MACVEAGH

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that at Sixmilecross Petty Sessions, county Tyrone, on the 6th instant, Mr. R. S. Clements, J.P., a clerk and debenture holder in the Killadroy Loan Fund Society, adjudicated in claims advanced by his cousin, Mr. R. O. Clements, clerk of Killadroy, Beragh, and Omagh Loan Fund Societies; whether he is aware that the accounts on these claims were not made out in the manner provided by the Charitable Loans Act of this year; and whether, having regard to the pledge given during the passing of the Act that any justice of the peace being also a debenture holder or official who would adjudicate in such cases would be dealt with by the Lord Chancellor, he can state what action has been taken in the Clements' case; whether he will call for all the papers in order to see whether any prosecution will lie against either of these gentlemen; and whether he will, meantime, take steps to have the decrees quashed.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. Cherry, Liverpool, Exchange)

I am informed that Mr. R. S. Clements, J. P., is not a clerk or debenture holder in any loan fund society, and; has had no connection with any such society for some years past. I am not aware whether this magistrate adjudicated in the cases of the loan fund society over which his cousin, Mr. R. O. Clements, is receiver; but if such were the case, I am not prepared to say that this action was irregular. The loan fund board inform me that they are not aware whether the accounts referred to were prepared in the manner provided by the Charitable Loans Act of this year; but the Board are aware that the receiver was advised by senior counsel as to the manner in which the accounts should be prepared. No necessity, therefore, appears to exist for considering the matters raised in the concluding parts of the Question, but I desire to say that I am not aware that any such pledge as is mentioned in the Question was given when the Charitable Loans Fund Bill was passing through Parliament.

MR. MACVEAGH

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Bill was before the House I moved an Amendment providing that no justice of the peace should adjudicate in these cases if he were a debenture holder. And has he not said that a magistrate adjudicating under such circumstances would be breaking the law? Will he draw the attention of the Lord Chancellor to this case?

MR. CHERRY

I have no intention; of doing that.

MR. MACVEAGH

Who informed the right hon. Gentleman that Mr. Clements was not a debenture holder in this society?

MR. CHERRY

I cannot answer that Question.

MR. MACVEAGH

I can tell you who he is.