1 APRIL 1922, Page 3

We do not deny, of course, the importance of Lord

Birken- head's arguments, but we are bound to say that on the whole Lord Carson had rather the best of the argument, because we are of opinion that a Lord Chancellor's ambiguous position is an anomaly that should be ended. The position of the Lord Chancellor depends upon no written law ; it is merely the result of custom. But times have greatly changed, and it would be a very good thing if it were arranged in future that the Lord Chancellor should not be a Cabinet Minister or a member of the Government. He ought to combine the offices of Head of the Law and Speaker of the House of Lords. Both these offices are judicial and each would be appropriate to the other.