§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether 2506W he has addressed letters to various magistrates of the city of Liverpool, who have by long years of public service on the bench and otherwise gained the esteem of their fellow citizens, asking them to resign on the ground that they do not now sit regularly on the bench?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSELetters were written to twenty-two magistrates for the city of Liverpool who, according to returns of attendances furnished to me half-yearly, had not attended any Petty Sessional meetings during the year ending 30th June last. As these magistrates had ceased to perform a fair share of their duties as justices of the peace, I requested them to be good enough to consider whether, in accordance with the findings of the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace they should not properly resign their office in order that the list of magistrates for the city might be confined, as far as possible, to those who take an active part in the administration of justice. Six of these magistrates are, I am informed, definitely disqualified by non-residence.