THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (The Earl of KIMBERELY)My Lords, before the House proceeds with the Notices and Orders of the Day, I wish to make a short explanation. Yesterday, in answer to Lord Stanley of Alderley, I made some observations a portion of which, no doubt owing to my not having been sufficiently distinct, were not quite correctly reported. What I am reported to have said is, I
in no way admitted that Sir Richard Garth was justified in saying that it was agreed on all hands that it was contrary to right and just principles that civil and judicial powers should be united in one person.I should be extremely sorry if it should go out to India that that is an expression of my opinion upon that important point, and the more so because I agree entirely with Sir Richard Garth that it is highly undesirable that the judicial and executive powers should be united in one person. But what I did say was that, in reference to a quotation which Lord Stanley of Alderley made from some speech or writing of Sir Richard Garth—I could in no way admit that the union of those two powers was maintained in India for the purpose of enhancing the prestige of the officers of the Indian Government.I observe, also, that I am reported to have stated that the regrettable occurrence itself was a small matter. What I meant to say, and what I believe I said, was that "it was a local matter," and not a small matter at all.