§ Mr. EDWARD BARRYasked whether Mr. T. Griffin, of Timoleague, South-East Cork, had recently obtained the commission of the peace for county Cork; whether Mr. Griffin was a publican in the village of Timoleague; on whose recommendation had he been appointed a magistrate; whether the Lord Chancellor had repeatedly refused to appoint certain gentlemen in South Cork, of the highest personal and commercial standing, on the grounds of their having an interest in licences; and whether the Lord Chancellor would now, in view of Mr. Griffin's appointment, reconsider the claims of the gentlemen in South county Cork who had hitherto been refused admission to the bench because of their connection with the trade?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMr. T. Griffin, of Timoleague, county Cork, was appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the county Cork upon the recommendation of the lieutenant of the county in the usual way. The Lord Chancellor was not aware that Mr. Griffin, amongst the many businesses which he carries on, included that of a publican.
§ Mr. EDWARD BARRYWhen recommendations emanate from local popular bodies, why does the Lord Chancellor consider it necessary to make these official 1994 inquiries, and not when recommendations are made by the lieutenant of the county?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know how that may be. The Lord Chancellor has great objections to persons connected with the publicans' business being put upon the Commission of the Peace, and possibly where the responsibility rests entirely upon him he makes inquiries of a more searching character than when recommendations are made by the lieutenant of a county. I do not know how that may be, but he accepts responsibility and he will continue to pursue his inquiries on the lines he has hitherto followed.
§ Mr. EDWARD BARRYHad Mr. Griffin any business a couple of months ago except that of a publican?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy information is that he carries on a great many businesses, and in Ireland it often happens in such cases that the publican's business is a very small part of a man's total trade.
§ Mr. EDWARD BARRYCan the right hon. Gentleman say why a gentleman in South Cork, who was very highly qualified and belonged to nearly all the representative boards, in the county, has been kept off the bench for years because of his connection with the trade?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYWhy was an exception made in this case, when applications in other cases of a similar character were refused?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not responsible for the exercise of the Lord Chancellor's discretion in any shape, manner, or way.
§ Mr. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the disqualifications for the office of justice of the peace is that the nominee is not a member of the United Irish League?
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLYou know all about it.
§ Mr. KILBRIDECan the right hon. Gentleman say what are the other businesses in which Mr. Griffin is engaged besides that of publican?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, I cannot.
§ Mr. CREANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in other constituencies in Ireland the lieutenants of the county has 1995 recommended publicans and they have been appointed, whereas wholesale manufacturers who happen to have retailers' licences have not been appointed, simply because the Lord Chancellor does not wish to have them?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGIs it a fact that the Lord Chancellor invariably appoints any person whom the lieutenant of the county may recommend for the post of magistrate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo; I do not think he is under any obligation to do so.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGDid not the right hon. Gentleman say that it was in consequence of this man's being recommended by the lieutenant of the county he received the appointment?
§ Mr. BIRRELLCertainly.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGIs it the invariable custom of the Lord Chancellor to appoint gentlemen as magistrates if they are recommended by the lieutenant of the county?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will answer as far as I am responsible for the Lord Chancellor—which is in no respect whatever. The Lord Chancellor usually pays great respect to the recommendations of lieutenants of counties, but he is under no obligation to appoint the men so recommended.