asked Mr. Attorney General, with reference to his recent statement on the subject of Mr. Church-ward and the Vote for the Post Office Packet Service, Whether it is in the power of a subject to keep alive for an indefinite number of years, without taking any action thereon, proceedings against the Crown in the Common Law Courts (unlike the practice which prevails in Courts of Equity), the Crown meanwhile remaining entirely helpless in the matter?

was understood to say, referring to the subject of Mr. Churchward and the Post Office Packet Vote, that it was doubtful whether the Crown was bound by the Common Law Procedure Act, and whether, therefore, proceedings against the Crown could be kept alive for an indefinite time in the Common Law Courts. The Judicature Bill would prevent an unreasonable delay in proceedings of this nature.