§ MR. MELDONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, For what period has Mr. Dillon, one of the clerks in the Registry of Deeds Office, Ireland, been absent from duty during the past four years; whether such absence was on leave, and if he has, during such absence, been in receipt of full pay; what amount of money has been paid to him during the period of such leave; and, whether the office has been short-handed during a considerable part of such period of absence?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI beg to inform the hon. Gentleman that Mr. Dillon was detached from the Irish Registry of Deeds Office in the summer of 1874, in order to assist the Commission appointed by the Treasury to test the value of his invention. He continued working under the Commission until the summer of 1875, and that body finally reported favourably on it about Christmas. It was believed to be more advantageous to the public service to allow Mr. Dillon a further increase of time to improve his system of indexing, which was thought to be very valuable. Since Mr. Dillon was detached he has been in receipt of his ordinary salary, now about £300 a-year. A writer was employed during Mr. Dillon's absence. I am not aware that the staff of clerks has been insufficient during Mr. Dillon's absence. I believe that the contrary is the fact.