§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the paragraph in the annual report for 1910–11 of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce with regard to the consequences resulting to jurors from their unnecessary detention at the courts; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been called to the matter referred to, which is not one for the Executive Government, but for the Judges of the High Court. I understand that the question has been considered by the Judges on several occasions, and that while they feel every sympathy with the jurors in the discharge of the onerous duties imposed upon them by law, and have endeavoured as far as possible to so adjust the business as to relieve individual jurors, they consider that the interests of the poorer litigants in the Civil Bill Courts have a special claim to precedence, and they regret they are unable to depart from the practice of hearing Civil Bill Appeals in the Record Court immediately after the opening of the Commission.