The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-19 00:00:00

FEES IN COUNTY cour,Ts.

Lord BROUGHAM rose to put a question to her
Majesty's Government respecting the fees paid in county
courts. Tne noble and learned lord proceeded to state
the increasing amount of business transacted in the
county courts since the original act establishing them
had passed, and the proportionate diminution of causes
in the superior courts. It was of the utmost importance,
considering that the vast majority of causes in the
county courts were in regard to sums under 201., that
the fees exacted in these courts should be in
proportion. What, however, was the fact ? The fees
taken in these colds amounted to about 270,0001. a
year. The taxes—not fees, for fees they were not—
which were exacted in the superior courts were restricted
to only 50,0001. a-year. The noble lord condemned the
system, in respect to fees established in the county
courts, as most grinding oppression and extortion. It
was altogether in opposition to the spirit of the act,
under the act by which the courts were constituted,
which was to render law as cheap as possible to the
poor man. He then proceeded to analyse the fees, and
summed up his analysis by stating that the amount of
fees extorted is in a great many cases 160 per cent be-
yond the amount sued for. He drew a distinction be-
tween the mode by which the judges of the superior
Courts were paid and that in which the judges in the
County Courts were paid. The former were paid out
of the Consolidated Fund, but he considered it disgrace-
ful that the latter should be paid out of the funds of the
court.
Lord PORTMAN entirely concurred with all that
had fallen from the noble and learned lord who had just
sat down. He thought that very great injustice was
done to many of the judges of the County Courts. They
complained not only of the great difference that was
made as to their salaries, but that that difference was
founded upon no intelligible principle. He hoped that
the noble lord on the woolsack and the noble earl who
represented the Treasury in this house would give their
best attention to the subject. He trusted that the Sec-
retary of the Treasury would not be allowed to interfere
in any Way with the successful operation of the act,
which was the case by his interfering with respect to the
salaries of the judges.
Earl GRANVILLE fully admitted the justice of the
remarks of the noble lord, but he regretted that he could
give no distinct pledge that they would be removed. The
noble lord on the woolsack had lately brought the sub-
ject before the Government. He trusted that this cir-
cumstance would satisfy the noble lord • at the same
time he assured him that the matter should receive the
serious consideration of her Majesty's Government.
After a few words from Lord CAMPBELL,
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the 'whole subject
was under the consideratiou of the Government, as the
evil complained of admitted of no further delay. The
noble and learned lord sympathised with his noble and
learned friend, and regretted that the salaries of the
county court judges should fluctuate. At the same time
he must say that those judges who did the most work
were not those judges who had received increased pay.
After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM, the subject
dropped.
The report on the Leases and Sales of Estates Bill was
considered and agreed to.
The Infants' Marriage Bill report and amendments
were brought up and received, and the third reading
fixed for Thursday next.
The Insurance on Lives Bill was read a second time.
The Cinque Ports Bill was real a second time.
The Earl of DERBY rose to propose the names for
the select committee for the Religious Worship Bill.
The motion was agreed to.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY declined to serve on
the committee.
Their lordships then adjourned.