asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. A. E. Dent, of North Cave, Yorkshire, who has been called upon to resign his position as Justice of the Peace by reason of his being a passive resister; and whether the Government intend to take any action in the matter?

Mr. Dent was appointed to the East Riding Bench on the 25th July, 1923. On the 5th April, 1924, at the Borough Petty Sessional Court, he was summoned by the overseers for non-payment of rates, and orders to pay the rates were made against him. Distress warrants were subsequently issued, and were executed on 19th April. Mr. Dent has been offered the option of undertaking to comply in future with the law under which the rates are payable or of resigning from the Bench. The necessity for any further action must depend upon the attitude adopted by Mr. Dent with regard to this offer. The Lord Chancellor thinks that Mr. Dent's fellow Justices are put in an embarrassing position when dealing with the cases of those who refuse to pay their rates, if the persons summoned are able to reply that members of the Bench are themselves refusing to comply with the law.

Has there ever been any other case similar to this case?

Is it not a fact that hundreds of men in similar conditions—magistrates all over the country—have taken up the same attitude and have not been dealt with in this way?

Why has it been left to this Government to penalise conscientious objectors?

Was it not perfectly well known that Mr. Dent was a passive resister when he was placed on the Bench last year?

I do not know which of the Supplementary Questions I am to answer. [HON. MEMBERS: "All.'] As to the first one, namely, whether this is the first case, I understand it is not. As to whether there have been hundreds of cases, I do not know; as to whether it was known that this Gentleman was a passive resister, I have not the faintest idea and the remaining question I have forgotten.

May I further ask whether Dr. Salter, who recently sat in this House, is a Justice of the Peace, and whether he has been in prison for the same offence?

May I ask the Government whether they will undertake to mete out the same treatment to those Members of the Government who, as conscientious objectors, also broke the law?

I beg to give notice of my intention to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in order to discuss this question.

Is the Attorney-General aware that the magistrates on this Bench approached Lord Cave under the last Government and nothing happened? They were rebuffed, and why has it been left to the hon. and learned Gentleman's Government to initiate this procedure?

May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman if the answer he has given has not been given on behalf of the Lord Chancellor who is, and for a number of years has been, an ornament of the Liberal party?

Are we to understand that conscientious objectors are to be allowed to make the laws of this country, but not to administer them?

The Government does not control the choice of the electors.