HC Deb 16 June 1864 vol 175 cc1912-3

Report [14th June]—Postponed Resolutions considered.

Seventh Resolution read 2°.

MR. BUTT

said, he would take that occasion to call attention to the inadequate remuneration of the Special Commissioners of Irish Fisheries, especially the legal Commissioner, and to move that the Vote be reduced by the sum of £1,455, the salaries and expenses of the Commissioners for Ireland. He took the course of moving the reduction, because it was only by doing so that he could raise the question which he wished to bring under the notice of the House.

Amendment proposed, to leave out "£26,647," and insert "£25,202,"— Mr. Butt,)—instead thereof.

Question proposed, "That '£26,647' stand part of the Resolution."

SIR ROBERT PEEL

said, he must admit that the salary of the legal Commissioner was not so high as to be likely to induce a man in first-rate practice to accept the appointment. The reason of Mr. Morris's resignation was that there was an unsatisfactory feeling between him and the other two Commissioners, and he (Sir Robert Peel) put it to him that under those circumstances the commission could not work satisfactorily.

MR. ESMONDE

said, in many cases the Commission had done great injustice.

MR. WHITESIDE

said, the House was in some respects responsible. There were three Commissioners who had £300 a year each, and they had jurisdiction over property amounting to £300,000 a year. He was only surprised that a member of the bar would accept such a salary for such services.

COLONEL DUNNE

said, that the Commissioners had decided no case under the Act of last Session. All that they had done had been under a previously existing Act.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

said, he wished to call attention to the insufficiency of the salaries paid to the sub-Inspectors of factories. The scheme for their increase which had been proposed by the Government had not given satisfaction, and he hoped that the Home Secretary would reconsider the matter, and would next year propose some further increase of their pay.

MR. BASS

said, he entirely concurred with the noble Lord. The travelling expenses allowed to these gentlemen were much too small.

SIR COLMAN O'LOGHLEN

said, that reverting to the question of the Irish Fisheries Commission, he wished to ask whether the salary of the legal member was to be increased?

SIR GEORGE GREY

said, that no increase was proposed in the Vote, and none could be made without the sanction of that House.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Resolution agreed to.

Ninth Resolution agreed to.

Twelfth Resolution further postponed till To-morrow.

Seventy-fifth Resolution agreed to.