§ 15. Mr. NIELDasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that by the Juries Act, 1870, Section 5 and Schedule, officers of the Navy, Army, Militia, and Yeomanry while on full pay are entitled to have their names excluded from the list of persons liable to serve on juries; that by Section 147 of the Army Act, and by Section 23, Sub-section (4), of the Territorial Act, 1907, every soldier in His Majesty's Regular Forces and every officer or man of the Territorial Force are exempt from serving on any jury; and whether, the officers and men of the New Armies being entitled to a like exemption, he will give directions for the guidance of overseers and others upon whom devolves the duty of compiling the jury lists that the names of all such persons shall be excluded from the jury lists now about to be compiled, in view of the saving of labour and expense involved, and also by reason of the confusion which must necessarily ensue in the summoning of persons to serve on juries, so many of whom will not be able to be served with notice, or who, if served, are by law entitled to claim exemption?
Mr. SAMUELI have no authority to issue any directions on the subject. The law is dear on the point, and those responsible for the compilation and revision of the jury lists will no doubt take care that the names of persons entitled by Statute to exemption from jury service are not included in the lists.