§ Mr. McKEAGasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that, instead of the customary two judges, a commissioner alone has been sent to take the assizes at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; that, in view of the heavy business, a second court, presided over by one of the leaders on the north eastern circuit, has had to 380W be hurriedly convened to relieve the congestion; and whether he will take steps to ensure that in future two judges, or at least one judge and a commissioner, are allocated to these assizes?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALMy hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that it is customary that two judges should go to Newcastle on the autumn assize. The Order in Council of 1912 regulating the circuits of the judges provides for one judge only for that place on that occasion. It is not unusual, when business is heavy on assize, that a leader on the circuit should assist the administration of justice by presiding in a second court. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor regrets that, by reason of the fact that there are two vacancies in the King's Bench Division which could not be filled until Parliament reassembled, it was necessary to send a commissioner instead of a judge on the north eastern circuit this autumn. A resolution will be moved in this House with a view to filling the vacancies.