§ 30. Major JESSONasked the Attorney-General whether he will consider the question of relieving justices of the peace from active duty on the bench when they have reached the age of 80, have become deaf, or are otherwise infirm and incapable of exercising their faculties judicially?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Donald Somervell)It is not practicable to establish a rigid rule fixing the age at which justices of the peace, who give their services voluntarily, should retire. It is the duty of advisory committees to inform the Lord Chancellor from time to time of those magistrates who are no longer able to fulfil their responsibilities, and when this information reaches the Lord Chancellor such action is taken as is appropriate to the particular case.
§ Major JESSONWill my hon. and learned Friend draw the attention of the advisory committees to the fact that, as the work of the magistrates is becoming more important and more onerous every year, senility is apt to produce obstinacy, and that there is a tendency for justice to be untruly and indifferently administered?