§ 13. Sir Ian Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered a resolution from the Standing Joint Police Committee of Merionethshire respecting the confirmation of the appointment of a Clerk to the Justices of Barmouth Division; and what action he has taken thereon.
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir. Before confirming the appointment of this Clerk to Justices, I took into consideration the representations made by the Standing Joint Committee, as I was required to do by Section 2348 34 of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, but I could find nothing in those representations to justify me in withholding my consent to the appointment.
§ Sir I. FraserIs it a fact that there were three or four applications for this job; that three of the applicants were ex-Service men and one a conscientious objector; that the ex-Service men lived in the neighbourhood and had qualifications of a kind considered suitable; that the conscientious objector did not, and that the Committee recommended that the conscientious objector should not be appointed, but that, nevertheless, the right hon. Gentleman confirmed the appointment?
§ Mr. EdeThere were three ex-Service men applicants. This applicant did not live in the county, but just across the border. I understand that the other applicants did live within the county. Being a conscientious objector is no bar to appointments of this kind.
§ Sir I. FraserMight not the ex-Service men have been given a preference in this case?
§ Mr. EdeI have to consider the qualifications of the applicants. The applicant was fully qualified and was recommended by the bench of magistrates concerned.