CONSIDERATION. (Hansard, 28 July 1862)

§ MR. ROLT
said, that the Bill proposed to abolish certain offices, and give compensation to the holders. It was quite right that the House should vote compensation for offices abolished, in order to effect real improvements in the law; but care should be taken that while one set of officers were abolished, another set, substantially the same, was not created, to be paid for out of the Bankruptcy Funds. Three houses belonging to the Insolvent Debtors Court were to be retained for the purposes of the new Bankruptcy Court. Some of the officers were transferred, and were to discharge their duties in these three houses. The housekeepers, however, were to be abolished and to have compensation. Now, he objected to their handing over those offices to other persons who were to receive salaries from the Bankruptcy Court. He did not observe in the Bill any proviso respecting the arrears since October, 1861.

MR. PEEL
said, that the Bill related altogether to the officers of the late Insolvent Court for whom no employment in the Bankruptcy Court could be found, and who were to receive compensation for the loss of their offices. Those officers who were transferred to employment in the Bankruptcy Court would continue to receive their salaries; those left in charge of houses, if any, would be paid as hitherto; those who were not employed at all would be pensioned on the basis of an average of seven years' emoluments, into which class the housekeepers would fall on their ceasing to have charge of the houses. No new offices would be created; and if additional officers were required, it would be easy to re-appoint those whose services had been dispensed with, in which event they would receive salaries, but of course their compensation would in that case cease to be paid.

MR. HENLEY
said, that though nothing might be easier than to do what the right hon. Gentleman proposed, the question was whether it would be done. Some words should be inserted in the Bill to that effect.