22. Major C. LOWTHERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a new Lord Chancellor has been appointed in Ireland in succession to Sir James Campbell; and what are the reasons for the change which involves a pension of £4,000 a year in addition to the pension of a like amount to another Irish ex-Chancellor?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODSection 44 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, has now been brought into operation and a new 2313 Lord Chancellor has been appointed under the altered conditions attaching to the office which include the transfer of the custody of the Great Seal of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant. It is not intended to fill the vacancy in the Chancery Division of the High Court which has been caused by the new appointment and this and other economies in contemplation will more than counter-balance the pension of the retiring Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. DEVLINWhy was Sir James Campbell removed, and an old gentleman of nearly 70 years put in his place?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Lord Chancellor who has just retired was 70 years of age.
§ Mr. DEVLINWas he asked to retire?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODHis distinguished successor is a younger man. For all matters in Ireland I am responsible, and I take responsibility.
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORThat is not an answer to the question.
Major LOWTHERWas any pressure put upon Sir James Campbell to retire, and, if so, why was pressure put upon him?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe retiring Lord Chancellor is a member of His Majesty's Government. I do not intend—I hope the House will support me—to say anything further than that the retiring Lord Chancellor goes with the usual pension, and that as a reward for his distinguished services His Majesty the King has been pleased to offer him a peerage, which he has accepted.
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORPursuing our inquiries into this most disgraceful job—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]—may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if Sir James Campbell, a man of the greatest professional ability, was forced, against his will, out of this place which he held with distinction, in order to make way for another gentleman? May I ask secondly, with regard to this other gentleman, who has been described by the right hon. Gentleman as being the same age as Sir James Campbell, whether he was not too ill even to open the psuedo Parliament in Dublin on the day after his appointment? Finally, is it true that Sir James 2314 Campbell first learned of his dismissal from office when he read it in the newspapers?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIn the statement contained in the last part of the question, I am glad to say there is absolutely no truth. As to the rest of the question, I decline to add anything to what I have already said.
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask the Prime Minister what justification he is prepared to offer to the House and to the country for the appointment of a gentleman of 68 years of age, who is too ill to perform his duties, as a substitute for a gentleman who was in the best of health and spirits, had high legal attainments, and was the right-hand man of Lord Carson in the Provisional Government? Why he is now dismissed in favour of an old gentleman who is not fit to perform the duties of the office, while the State has imposed upon it an extra cost of £4,000 a year for this most disgraceful job? Why is this done while Dr. Addison, a decent man, is dismissed from office—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]