§ MR. HENRY (Shropshire, Wellington)I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he would use his influence that recommendations for county magistrates of gentlemen who possess the present necessary qualifications should be dealt with with more consideration than has been done during the period his Government has been in office; and whether he is aware that in the county of Shropshire, out of about 250 county magistrates, with the exception of about ton, the whole number are members of the Unionist Party.
§ *SIR. C. HILLBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, might I ask whether he is aware that about a month ago the vacancies in the magistracies of the borough of Shrewsbury wore filled by the appointment of seven gentlemen of whom six are well-known supporters of his Party?
§ THE SECRETARY OK STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.Perhaps the House will allow me to make a somewhat full statement in answer to my hon. friend. Exclusive of Lancashire, there are 222 boroughs with separate benches of justices in England and Wales, and in addition there are separate county benches in all the counties of England, Scotland and Wales, most of which are divided into Parliamentary divisions, and each division is sub - divided into different districts for magisterial purposes. In all they number many hundreds. The Lord Chancellor is quite aware that there is a great preponderance of Conservative justices in most of those districts and considers it a great evil. It 460 impairs the confidence that ought to prevail, and causes a legitimate sense of injustice. Up to the present date fresh appointments have been made in 113 out of 222 boroughs, and out of the ninety-eight counties and liberties in England, Scotland and Wales, frosh appointments have boon made or a provisional list made out in forty-five. It is quite impossible for this business to proceed with greater rapidity. Experience has shown that it is necessary to make inquiries in regard to all the names recommended, though in nearly all cases the Members of Parliament have done their best to help with the information at their disposal. Had it not been for the cordial assistance of almost all the Lord-Lieutenants with whom he has been in communication, the Lord Chancellor would not have accomplished all that has been done. The Lord Chancellor wishes to secure a fair balance of classes and opinions on the bench, but he is not prepared to treat this office which is concerned with the administration of justice to the poorest classes as a prize for political services and the process must take time. Nor is he prepared to withdraw from still more important business a greater portion of his time. With respect to the county of Shropshire itself, it is believed that there is a great disparity though not so great as assumed in the Question. It is the same in other counties. It is impossible for the whole of this vast business to be treated at one time, and the numerous cases must proceed in order.
§ MR. SLOANIn view of the Lord Chancellor's opinion that the Unionist magistrates are a great danger, is it intended to withdraw their commissions?
§ *MR. GLADSTONEI said that the disparity was a great evil.
§ MR. LAMBTON (Durham, S.E.)Arising out of that Answer, I beg to ask if we are to understand that it is the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman that in recent years magistrates have been improperly appointed; and whether he will issue instructions to Lords-Lieutenant that in future they are to appoint magistrates on political grounds and not on the ground of merit.
§ *MR. GLADSTONEThat Question must be addressed to the Prime Minister, on whose behalf I replied.
§ MR. LAMBTONIt is a most important Question.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)Will the right hon. Gentleman extend his generous hand to Ireland, where 75 per cent, of the magistrates are Unionist?
§ MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is as easy to approach the Shah of Persia for a recommendation as a Lord-Lieutenant of an Irish county?