HC Deb 22 November 1906 vol 165 cc1031-2
MR. HENRY (Shropshire, Wellington)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in spite of the disproportion between the Liberal and Unionist county magistrates in the county of Shropshire at the end of last year, of fifteen county magistrates recently appointed by the Lord Chancellor eight are recognised as adherents to the Unionist Party; and whether he will recommend a more effective remedy to an evil which the Lord Chancellor has admitted causes a legitimate sense of injustice than by accentuating the preponderance of Unionist county magistrates.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am not aware that eight of the gentlemen referred to are Unionists. The Lord Chancellor carefully considered the names suggested to him by the hon. Member, and of those who were willing to accept the position, all who in the opinion of the Lord Chancellor were suitable have been placed on the Bench. The latter part of this question is argumentative. The existing disparity is a real evil, but it is not to be remedied by the appointment of gentlemen who are not suitable, and that may be the case without the least reflection on the personal character of the individual. The Lord Chancellor's difficult duty is to judge of this for himself, and he discharges it to the best of his ability.

MR. LUPTON

How is it possible for the Lord Chancellor himself to judge the characters of the 5,000 gentlemen who are required as magistrates in this country?

[No Answer was returned.]