BRITISH MAGISTRATES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 5

BRITISH MAGISTRATES.

»«■' - ■> t POLITICAL COLOUR 'AND CREED. (By Telegraph -PreßS ABioclatlq'n-Oo^yrlchp (Rcc Julj 22,>10 30. pmj' •London, July 22. In the House of Lojds, Lord James, of Hcrefoid, mitiatod a debate upon tho metHod of appointing magistrates Lord Loraburn (Lord High Chancellor) stated that 6000 appointments had been made in three yeans, amj'2o,ooo applications had been refused. Sectarian and political jealousy mado the choice difficult. Lord Loroburn added that King Edward is appointing a Roj.il Commission to consider a remedy. t

i ;:: - unionist preponderance;'-V^ • The preponderance.: of' Unibnist:'':magistrates pm the county benches" has long been" fa fore point' with Liberals. When tile Liberal Gov-. eminent, came- into. power.in: 1905,. its supporters hoped that t'hey. would; IJeMfiVfp recpto'r; the. leeway; but: they assort thai<-;thi9 has-riot: been the ease,: and -thai; - i tjift',appointn)en.t lrf of' Unionist magistrates hns continued; and they blame the Lord High' ..Chancellor..(Loud-Lore'., burn) and in some cases reflect on the quality of his Liberalism.:. Some; ofrliis."critics allege' 'as a 1 palliative for ? his ;p»Upy'-;thaLLpr"d :Liine- c iburn" relies .too much' oh the advice- of Unionist Lords-Lieutenant of-'the'cdunJipS'.TC i A Liberal deputation.approached.Mr. Asquith ok.l the. subject, and.'tboiigtV the' ! de^iHtt'tioh'was private, some particulars J:ran.flpjr<>rl, ~ Jt wot, contended that in praotice- : the. holding: of Lib- : eral opinions seem ed ■ to" act.' as! a disq unUficflr tion for the magistracy. v< ■ The '''speakers'.' -ingeneral disclaimed any, desire*-to*. See ffi'e offfW of magistrate' bestowed as 'a reward for political services, but they.said the present composition of the bench was. .such; as 'to foifoit i ipublic confidence, in-the -admiuistratioii of justice.■'■•••.■■■■'".■' "'■''•. ;;!' , '." s :'ii^>. l 4''''w.- : -»-.tn f I ; The Prime Minister;-:in -the -course/of his | ; reply," spoke -'of : the infinite" labour '"'the. Loid (Chancellor had given to-'this 1 , subject;' 'Deal;iiig -with the figures, he ; showed ! thnt since taking office, -the, iLord''Chancellor had. appointed; 3997 magistrates, of whom he believed ' that not far short'df"three thousahd are, Liberals. There still remained, howe\ei, a great preponderance-of Unionists^and; the condition of the" Bench showed how" largely i political considerations had, operated in the I past...'He entirely- agreed :. that,: the" office- of i magistrate should not.be given ton social con- , siderations or as a reward for '.political! ser- | vice, but: for- nlerit, for.,;. presumed' ,judicial, qualities, and for p»st publib .■ services. Re- . gard should be had, nboYCinll,i-ta-tho-degico I of public-confidence enjoyed, by candidates for the mngistracy.' A, judicial system wliich failed •to inspire confidence, and;.respect was-one of the greatest of evils, and: a dissolvent.; of the j very elements of society; ~A' member of ' the deputation- questioned whether' all 'those classed as.Liberals.,,weie justly entitled to be •>