MR. DRUMMONDasked, if it was likely that salaries would soon be fixed for the clerks of county courts, in lieu of fees, as had been done with the judges.
§ SIR G. GREYsaid, the duties of the judges being much of the same character and occupying about the same proportion of their time, it had been found practicable to fix a uniform scale of salary for the judges, the mininum being settled by the Act of Parliament. With regard to the clerks, the case was quite different, for the extent of their duties was very various, some, for instance, acted for a single court, others took a certain district; hence it had been found impossible to fix a uniform salary. Their cases had been investigated; but the Government had not yet been able to fix the amount in each individual case at which a commutation should be effected. In some cases, where the fees received were much higher than the salary allowed by law, it had been thought right that a commutation should take place immediately.
§ SIR G. PECHELLasked if anything was to be done with regard to the fees of bailiffs, who were suffering great inconvenience at present, and were positive losers. As the writs must be delivered by them, unless something was done to secure their services, the whole business of these courts would soon be at a standstill.
§ SIR G. GREYsaid, that was also matter of inquiry. In certain districts the fees did not amount to a sufficient sum to afford an adequate remuneration to the 817 bailiffs. He believed the only thing to be done would be to reduce their number.
§ Subject dropped.