§ SIR ROBERT HOBART (Hampshire, New Forest)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether as the appointment of borough magistrates is made directly by the Lord Chancellor without having recourse to investigations by lords-lieutenant or other similar authorities as to the qualification of persons so to be appointed, His Majesty's Government will agree that the same procedure should be followed by the Lord Chancellor in the case of the appointment of county magistrates, without differentiation between one class of magistrate and another?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Lord-Chancellor informs me that he cannot approve of any change by which he would be deprived of the assistance of lords-lieutenant. In boroughs it is always easy to obtain from most competent quarters all necessary information as to the qualifications of candidates for the office. In counties it is often difficult, and experience has proved the absolute necessity of full inquiries before names are placed on the Commission.