§ Mr. Humewished to know from the noble Lord (Lord Althorp) whether any step had been taken with respect to the office of master of the Reports in Chancery?
§ Lord Althorpsaid, that, in reply to the question put by the hon. Gentleman, he would state the whole of the facts of the case. Upon the office of Master of the Reports becoming vacant the senior registrar claimed the office as a matter of right. The Lord Chancellor thought differently. Upon inquiry, however, it appeared to have been the regular practice of the chief registrar to succeed to the office, and, therefore, the Lord Chancellor gave way. His noble friend, however, stated to the then chief registrar that a Bill was in preparation by which the office of Master of the Reports would be abolished, and, that if, with that information before him, the chief registrar chose to take the office, he might have it. The chief registrar, under these circumstances accepted the office. It had been attempted on the death of the late Master, Mr. Weeks, to do without filling up the office at all. That, however, had been found to be impossible without other arrangements; for, at present, the Accountant General of the Court of Chancery could pay no money whatever without the order of the Master. The matter then stood thus:—A person had been appointed to the office with a knowledge on his part that it was to be abolished, and a Bill was preparing for that purpose, and would be ready in a few days. The case, however, of the person who had accepted the office was a peculiar one. The office of chief registrar had been filled as a matter of course by the second registrar. The office of chief registrar was a laborious one, while that of Master gave its possessor 353 little to do. Now, if the office of Master was abolished, the present possessor of it would have nothing, unless provided for, and, therefore, it was intended that he should have a retiring allowance. [Hear hear.] He perfectly well understood that cheer, but he thought the course proposed only proper. The present Master had been forty-seven years in the public service; and he might, considering his state of health, had he been so disposed, have retired two years ago on the retiring allowance apportioned for a service of forty-five years. He, therefore, could not think, that there would be any extravagance in allowing him now a retiring allowance. The public would certainly not he losers by the arrangement. An office worth 4,000l. or 5,000l. a-year, would be abolished, and a retiring allowance would be given to a person who had been in the public service forty-seven years.
§ Mr. Robinsonsaid, he hoped to see these offices abolished altogether.