A MYSTERIOUS BOARD.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Can you throw any light on the use of the word " Board " in the following extract from the Times Law Report of July 26th, of Hull v. McKenna before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ? " The Sovereign, as Sovereign of the Empire, had retained the prerogative of justice by Imperial statute. The growth of the Empire, and particularly of the Dominions, had led the Board to restrict substantially the exercise by the Sovereign of that prerogative." What is the mysterious " Board " referred to ? and by what authority does it restrict the prerogative of the Sovereign ? Surely the Act of 1833, by which the Judicial Committee came into existence, does not provide for any such " Board " or authority. And further, appeals to the Privy Council are in the nature of a petition to the Crown, and for any Board to restrict the right to petition is contrary to the provision of the Bill of Rights.—I am, Sir, &c., Lahore. MAGNA CARTA.
[The Times summary seems to have been slightly misleading. The word " Board " is often used for this Committee of the Privy Council, as well as for the Treasury Board and the Board of Trade, and so on, which are also, technically, Com- mittees of the Privy Council. Lord Haldane, however, did not actually use the word " Board" on July 25th, and was, of course, careful to say that the Committee merely advised the King to do this or that. Our correspondent's fears are therefore groundless.—En. Spectator.]
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