§ 94. Mr. O'SHEEasked whether Major Austen Meldon has recently been appointed resident magistrate; what are his qualifications for the position; what legal training has he had; what is the date of the last appointment of a solicitor or barrister; how many vacancies have occurred since; what is the present total number of resident magistrates in Ireland; how many of them were practising barristers or solicitors before their appointment; and whether the Lord Lieutenant has received a protest against the recent appointment from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMajor James Austin Meldon was appointed resident magistrate on 21st March last. Prior to his appointment he had acted as Civil and Military Officer in Uganda administering the Civil Code, and was Chief of Police in St. Vincent and Grenada. Two barristers were appointed as resident magistrates in 1911, and there have been six vacancies since that year. There are in all sixty-five resident magistrates in Ireland, of whom twenty-two were practising barristers or solicitors at the time of their appointment, and, by arrangement, one-third of the vacancies are filled by officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The answer to the final paragraph is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. O'SHEEIs the law in Uganda the same as the law in Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo; I understand there is some slight variation.