§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked how many persons, being licensed publicans at the time of appointment, have been appointed justices of the peace in Ireland within the past three years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Lord Chancellor informs me that it is the general practice not to appoint licensed publicans as magistrates. In order to afford the information requested it would be necessary to examine the papers connected with every appointment to the magistracy in Ireland during the period mentioned, which would take a 1673W considerable time and would serve no useful purpose, seeing that persons holding licences are not disqualified by law from being magistrates.