REPORT.

STANDING COMMITTEE C, to whom the ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BILL [Lords] was referred;-Have gone through the Bill, and made Amendments thereunto.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BILL [LORDS].

Clause 1.

Amendment proposed, in page 1, lines 7 and 8, to leave out the words "or no substantial amount of business". (Mr. Maden).-Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clanse."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 2, disagreed to.

Clause 3, agreed to.

Clause 4.

Amendment made, in page 3, line 30, at the end, by inserting the words :

"Provided that nothing in this section shall affect the tenure of any officer appointed before the commencement of this Act "-(Mr. Attorney-General).

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 5-8, agreed to.

Clause 9.

Amendment proposed, in page 6, line 5, to leave out the word "but," in order to insert the word "and". (Sir Kingsley Wood),-instead thereof.-Question proposed, "That the word but' stand part of the Clause.'

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, agreed to.

Clause 10, agreed to.

Clause 11.

Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill,"— put, and agreed to.

Clause 12.

Amendment proposed, in page 7, line 21, after the word "Court," to insert the words" and in lunacy, divorce, and contentious probate matters" (Sir Henry Cautley). Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendments made, in page 9, line 18, after the word "section" by inserting the words "two hundred and thirtyseven of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, or by section"; and in page 9, line 20, by leaving out the words "that Act," and inserting the words "those Acts, respectively"-(Mr. Attorney-General),-instead thereof.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 13, agreed to.

Clause 14.

Amendment proposed, in page 10, line 37, to leave out the words "within twenty-eight days (Sir Henry Cautley). Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause agreed to.

Clause 15.

Amendment made, in page 11, line 38, at the end, by inserting the words :

"The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, by order prescribe the fees to be charged in respect of the payment and investment of

money or the application thereof or dealing there with under this section (Mr. Attorney-General).

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 16, agreed to.

Clause 17.

Amendment made, in page 13, line 42, after the word "section," by inserting the words "and all other fees whatsoever to be taken under the Act of 1914 shall be prescribed by order made by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Treasury and not otherwise, and all such other fees shall be paid into such account as the Treasury may direct"-(Mr. Attorney-General).

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 18-24, agreed to.

New Clause ("Qualifications of Judges of Supreme Court")-(Mr. Attorney-General),-brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another New Clause ("Trial with jury in High Court ") -(Sir Malcolm Macnaghten),-brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another New Clause ("Extension of power to make grants of probate and administration in district registries ") (Mr. Nesbitt),-brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another New Clause ("Amendment of Section 1 of County Courts Act, 1919 ") brought up, and read the first time as follows:

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(1) In any action to which section one of The County Courts Act, 1919, applies, either party may at any time apply to the court or a judge for an order that the claim, or the claim and counterclaim (if any), or if the only matter remaining to be tried is a counterclaim, the counterclaim shall be referred to a master

of the Supreme Court (King's Bench Division) for trial, and the court or a judge may thereupon, if the court or a judge thinks fit, order the same to be so referred accordingly.

(2) Where any action is in pursuance of the preceding section referred to a master of the Supreme Court (King's Bench Division) for trial, the master shall have the same powers and duties as a referee to whom any cause or matter is referred, and accordingly the provisions of Rules 48 to 52 of Order XXXVI. and of Rule 2 of Order XL. of the rules of the Supreme Court shall apply as if the word 'master' were therein substituted for the word referee'"-(Mr. Nesbitt). Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause be read a second time.'

Motion and Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Schedule 1.

Amendments made, in page 19, line 4, column 2, after the word "Office," by inserting the words "provided he has been a practising solicitor of not less than ten years' standing"; in line 6, column 2, after the word "Court," by inserting the words "provided he has been a practising solicitor of not less than ten years' standing"; in line 22, column 2, after the word "solicitor," by inserting the words "provided that there shall at no time be more than one taxing master who shall have been appointed by virtue of the qualification specified in this paragraph"; in line 25, column 2, after the word "Court," by inserting the words "provided he has been a practising solicitor of not less than ten years' standing"-(Mr. Nesbitt); and in page 19, line 46, at the end, by adding the words:

"For the purposes of this Schedule persons who have served in His Majesty's Forces and have practised as barristers or solicitors for not less than ten years shall be deemed to be practising barristers or practising solicitors respectively "—(Mr. Attorney-General).

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule 2, agreed to.