§ Order of the Day for the Second Beading, read.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMP, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, explained that its object was to do an act of justice to certain meritorious public servants. The salaries which were considered sufficient when the metropolitan police courts were established in 1839 were now inadequate—they were below those now paid to the County Court Judges, notwithstanding the graver nature of the duties they were called upon to perform. By the 2 & 3 Vict. c. 79, by which the metropolitan police districts were established, it was provided that salaries not exceeding £1,200 a-year should be paid to each magistrate; though by a subsequent Act the salary of the chief magistrate was raised to £1,500. Since 1839 the population of the metropolis had vastly increased, and the duties of these gentlemen had become proportionately heavy. The expenses of living had also largely increased. It would be very bad policy to pay inadequately a body of gentlemen to whom were entrusted such weighty responsibilities—or to place their service at a less value than those of the County Court Judges, who might be said to occupy an analogous position. The Bill therefore proposed that the salaries of the chief magistrate should be in future £1,800 a-year, and those of the junior magistrates £1,500. It would be unwise parsimony to continue to pay them inadequately, and it was therefore now proposed to raise their salaries from £1,200 to £1,500, giving the chief magistrate at Bow Street £1,800 a-year.
§ Bill read 2a accordingly and committed to a Committee of the Whole House Tomorrow.