The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-27 00:00:00

EVENING EDITIO. N.

Magistrates. Besides, if the House sanctioned the Bill, i, t would
confer additional duty upon these Magistra:es; and extend th, -irju-
risdiction. He did not think that a salary of SOO/. rot' an, num
could enable the Home Secretary to secure the ablest men in
these situations, as such had been proved to be the case under th e
present system. He trusted, therefore, the House would not think
it an exercise of too great liberality to give a fair remuneration
to these persons.

Mr. WILLIAMS supported the amendment of the Hon. Mem-
ber for Kilkenny, because he had heard no grounds for the large
exercise it was proposed to make in the salaries of these functiona-
ries. The argument of the Hon. Member for Lambeth was that
because they paid other persons large salaries for doing little or no-
thing, they should now pay these gentlemen more than they were
in the habit of receiving.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE would most certainty support the Amend.
meat of the Hon. Member for Kilkenny. A salary of 8001. a year
had produced such men as Col. Rowan and Mr. Mayne, and
he had objected to their salaries being increased to 1,2001. ;
although, if any men deserved ar. increase of their salaries, it
was these most efficient men.—(Hear, hear.) Now it was pro-
posed to give men who had never been tried a salary of 1,2001.,
when i t was well known that they could get men of eminence in
the profession to fill these situations at a salary of 1,0001. a year.
Colonel SIBTHORP had cheerfully voted for an increase to the
salaries of Colonel Rowan and Mr. Mayne, for no men had better
deserved it.—(Hear, hear.) That he should certainly oppose the
present proposition. He supposed the increased expenditure would
be met by a further issue of Exchequer bilis, but upon his soul he
would not trust the Government with a sixpence.—(Laughter.)
Mr. GROTE did not think that any sufficient ground had been
stated for fixing the salary of the Chief Magistrate at a higher
amount than that of the other Magistrates. He did not think
1,200/. a year was too large a salary for the Magistrates.
Mr. C. BULLER thought the reduction now proposed was a
most paltry economy, and he could not consent to fixing the sala-
ries of judicial officers at less than 1,200/. a year. He also consi-
dered that the Chief Magistrate ought to have a larger salary
than the others, in order that the prospect of promotion might Le
held out. .

Mr. LAW mill as the duties were to be increased, the salaries
ought to be increased also; but whatever the salary might be they
would not be in an independent situation if they were liable to be
removed at the caprice of the Government.
After a few remarks from Mr. HINDE,

Mr. P. HO WARO said he considered 1,0001. a year quite
sufficient for the services of a Police Magistrate, and was certain
that adequate men might be found for the discharge of the duties
at that sum.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL did not think the proposed
salary was too large. Those who administered justice to the poor
ought to be amply remunerated, and he was convinced they would
not be able to command proper talent for less than 1,200/. What-
ever the salary might be generally, he was strongly of opinion that
there ought to be one Magistrate at their head with something
more.

Mr. PLUMPTRE thought the salary now under concideration
was a piece of extravagance. What did they give to the chaplain.
of gaols ? Did they give them 1,000/. a year ? No, nor ant's
thing like it, and he should vote against the present proposition.
Lord G. SOMERSET said it was most important that these
viduals should be fully qualified to discharge their duties, and he
thought 1,0001. a-year would command the services of efficient men.
Colonel WOOD thought there ought to be two grades of salary,
and that as vacancies occurred the juniors should be promoted.

Mr. WARBURTON thought that 1,2001. a_year was not too
much for a married man to enable him to lead a respectable and
regular life.---(Laughter.)

Mr. ACLAND was in favour of a higher rate of salary.
Mr. AGLIONBY thought that all the Magistrates ought to be
put upon equality with respect to salary, and would take the sense
of the House upon it, conceiving that making a distinction between
the salary of the Chief and the other Magistrates would lead to sub.
serviency.

Mr. SHEPHERD thought that Magistrates should be com-
pelled to attend at their offices at hours which were convenient to
the public.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Committee
divided, when there appeared—

For the Motion 46
For the Amendment
Majority for the Amendment —l6
On the question that 1,2001. should be inserted,
Mr. HUME moved, as an amendment, that 1,0001. should be
inserted.

Mr. DUNCOMBE said that there would be plenty of barristers
applying for the situations, and men of talent, too, if the salary
was only SOW. a year.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Committee
divided, when the numbers were—

For the amendment
Against it 57
Majority.
The clause was then agreed to.
On clause I I being read,
Mr. F. MAULE said, that after the long period that had been
occupied in discussing the Bill, he should now move that the Chair-
man report progress, and ask leave to sit again that day.—(Cries of
" No, no.")
Mr. LAW would object to the motion. He should move that
the Committee do proceed with the Bill.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said it had been objected to sit on that day
(Saturday) at an early hour of the evening, and it would be unfair,
because there had been opposition to the Bill, to proceed with it at
twelve o'clock.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, as the House had sat to so late an hour,
he thought it would not be advisable to sit on Saturday.

Col. J. WOOD moved the omission of the clause.
After a long discussion, the Gallery was cleared, but no division
took place, and the clause was agreed to.
Clause 12 was also agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave fo sit
again.