§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that none of the measures for the reform of the constitution and the judiciary of the Isle of Man recommended by the Home Office Departmental Committee in 1911 has yet been carried into effect and that there is a general feeling in the island that this failure is due mainly to the dilatoriness of the Lieutenant-Governor; and whether he will give the Lieutenant-Governor instructions to proceed with these measures?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe legislative measures necessary to carry out the principal reforms recommended by the Committee were under consideration at the outbreak of War, and were then by common consent suspended for a time. I am not 407W aware that there is any general desire in the island to resume the consideration of them at the present moment, and there are obvious reasons for not doing so at a time when the Government staff is heavily pressed with work and a considerable number of the inhabitants are absent with the forces or in employment in England. Others of the Committee's recommendations are being carried out as opportunity offers. On the recent death of the Clerk of the Rolls I decided to give effect to the recommendation for the reduction of the judiciary, and the necessary consequential legislation is now before the Legislature. The whole subject will be taken up again in due course.