1 JULY 1871, Page 2

The Government has decided to strengthen the Judicial Committee of

Privy Council. The amount of property under litigation from India alone between 18U3 and 1868 was .C13,390,000, but the Treasury cannot bring itself to give full salaries. The Lord Chancellor therefore proposes to appoint four paid members, two retired judges from Westminster Hall and two from India, and each will receive £1,500 a year in addition to pension. That is, the English judges, who do not understand Indian business, will have £5,000 a year, and the Indian judges, who do, will have £3,500,—clearly a perfect arrangement. However, four judges sitting permanently till arrears are cleared off will he able to do the work, and abate a scandal which has attained its present dis- creditable height solely through the inopportune parsimony of her Majesty's Government. The taxpayer has claims, but he has no right to govern India and refuse his subjects justice.