§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (EARL BEAUCHAMP)My Lords, this is a simple Bill which bears quite plainly on the face of it both its objects and what are likely to be its results. Your Lordships will see that in the first clause power is taken to increase the number of Judges of the High Court in India. There has been within the last few years a very great increase in the number of cases which have been tried at Calcutta, so large that it is necessary to increase the number of Judges, there being a large number of arrears. Power is taken at the same time to increase the number of Judges in the other High Courts, not confining themselves under this Bill to the one particular case I have mentioned. In the same way and looking forward, the Government of India are anxious to take power to establish additional High Courts when it should seem to them desirable. The third clause gives power to appoint temporary Judges, with regard to which there is at the present moment some difficulty. Additional Judges cannot be appointed without being counted amongst those who are already members of the Court. This Bill met in another place with nothing but commendation and praise, and therefore I venture to hope that your Lordships will give it a Second Reading.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Earl Beauchamp.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.