MR. TYSON WILSONI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can state how many persons were appointed county magistrates for the county of Lancaster during the year 1907; and how many of those appointed were working men.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHYOF LANCASTER (Sir HENRY FOWLER,) Wolverhampton, E.In the years 1906 and 1907 there have been 449 new magistrates appointed for the county and boroughs of Lancashire, viz., 147 for the county, and 302 for the boroughs. The total number appointed in the five preceding years was 700. I am not able to classify the occupations of the magistrates who have been appointed.
§ MR. BELLOC (Salford, S.)Has it been the invariable practice not to nominate as county magistrates gentlemen already appointed as borough justices?
§ SIR HENRY FOWLERYes, I consider it undesirable that the two 1545 should be combined. Where a man is on the borough bench there is no reason why he should be put on the county bench. If the office is regarded as an honour it should be distributed, and if as a responsible duty, the duty should be divided among as large a number of gentlemen as desirable.
§ MR. CORRIE GRANTBut is it not sometimes desirable to have a county magistrate in a borough to whom officials may go when they want documents signed or summonses issued?
§ SIR HENRY FOWLERI have given the question my best consideration, and I think the balance of argument is against one man holding the two offices.