§ The Lord Chancellor, in moving the second reading of the Admiralty Courts Judge's Salary Bill, said that the object of it was to place the judge of the Court and the registrar of the Court of Admiralty on such a footing as would enable them to transact the business of the court efficiently, both in time of peace and in time of war. The bill proposed to make the salary of the judge 4,000l. a year, and the salary of the registrar 500l. a year. There was also a power of giving the registrar a pension of 200l. a year, in case he became incapable from infirmity to discharge his duties.
Lord Broughamstated, that the objections which he had urged against the bill, which came up to their Lordships from the House of Commons on this subject last year had all been obviated by the bill of this year, except that objection which rested on the patronage which the bill gave to the judge over the appointment of the different officers of his court. He therefore suggested, that in the present stage of the bill no resistance should be offered to it. Instead of thinking the salary given to the judge of the court too high, he thought it too low; but to their Lordships' House no alteration in that respect could be made.
§ Bill read a second time.