§ Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade: (1) Whether his attention had been drawn to the injury caused to the trade and commerce of the country owing to the infrequent and insufficient action of the Rule Committee to amend, revise, or add to the Rules of the Supreme Court to meet cases of proved injustice which, under existing conditions, remain uncorrected; 28 and, if so, whether he proposed to take any action in the matter? (2) Whether he will confer with the Lord Chancellor and with His Majesty's Attorney-General with a view to the consideration of the present operation of the Rules of Court adversely affecting commercial interests and, if approved, take steps to establish a vigilance department of the Board of Trade in legal matters, whose duty it should be to invite and receive from His Majesty's judges, chambers of commerce, and others, quarterly returns of such suggested amendments or additions as may be considered necessary, and to initiate legislation or frame for the consideration of the Rule Committee such draft rules or amendments as the department may recommend to give effect to needed alterations? And (3) Whether he will confer with the Lord Chancellor and His Majesty's Attorney-General upon the subject of the expediency of giving to His Majesty's judges discretionary power to award that the costs of the interpretation of obscure or doubtful provisions in Acts of Parliament affecting commercial interests should be borne by the Consolidated Fund in those instances where the imposing thereof on the parties to litigation would entail an unreasonable burden?
Mr. BUXTONMy attention has not been drawn to the matter referred to in the first question, but I may say generally that if any specific case of hardship resulting from the operation of the Rules is brought before me I shall be ready to consider it, with a view to possible representations in the proper quarter. This course has been followed in one or two cases which have been brought before the Board of Trade. As regards the second question. I do not see that any good purpose would be served by the establishment of such a Department as the hon. Member proposes. As regards the third question, it does not appear that the Board of Trade is the Department especially concerned.