§ House in Committee (according to order).
§ LORD FITZGERALDsaid, that the recent transference of Chief Justice Morris to the Queen's Bench Division rendered this Bill necessary, in order to place the Superior Courts in Ireland on the same footing as in England. He did not propose to inquire in the least degree who would be the new Puisne Judge; but he wished to point out that, under the Irish Land Bill, the Government asked that a Common Law Judge should be asked to act occasionally on the Land Commission. Now, the new Judge could not be called on to undertake this office without his consent; and he, therefore, thought an honourable engagement should be entered into with the new Judge that he would be ready, if required, to give up the comparative ease of the Queen's Bench Division for the hard work of the Land Commission. There would thus be an opportunity of saving one Judge at least, and, at the same time, of strengthening the Land Commission. No doubt, the Irish Bench was at present over-manned, and admitted of great consolidation; but his object was not to reduce it below 10, but to enter on a course of gradually letting the excrescences of the present system die out. It was absolutely necessary to take the matter in hand speedily, and it might be worth while to appoint a Committee to inquire into the matter.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND (Lord ASHBOURNE)said, he thought that some of the suggestions of the noble and learned Lord were most 1551 valuable, and that with reference to consolidation was extremely important. They were partly connected with the debate on the Irish Land Bill, which was about to be resumed, and they had been put forward in the Report of the Cowper Commission. The provision relative to consolidation was, however, one which required very careful examination.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; and to be read 3a on Thursday next.