§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether the number of Roman Catholics in Athenry petty sessions district amounts to 6,362 and the number of Protestants to 135; whether the number of magistrates appointed for the district is seven, six of whom are Protestants and one only Catholic; what number of times during the past 12 months has each of the Protestant magistrates, Messrs. A. W. Hazel, J. E. Lopdell, H. T. Hall, and A. S. French, and what number of times has the Catholic magistrate, Mr. Meldon, attended; how many times during the year ended 1st November, 1909, the petty sessions at Athenry had to be adjourned for the attendance of a second magistrate; how many cases listed, requiring the attendance of a second magistrate, were adjourned because of the poor attendance of the local magistrates two and even three times, putting those persons who were before the court to inconvenience and expense; and whether he will remove these grievances by the appointment of some additional magistrates who would discharge the duties of their office with greater punctuality so far as attendance at the courthouse of Athenry is concerned?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI shall refer this case to the Lord Chancellor, to whose jurisdiction the matter belongs.