§ MR. BONHAM-CARTERsaid, he rose to call the attention of the Vice President of the Committee of Council to the subject of the payment of Cattle Inspectors. The Cattle Diseases Act Amendment Bill of this Session, passed on the 23rd of last month, enacts by the ninth clause that no fee or other charge shall be demanded or paid for any certificate or licence under that Act, or any order or regulation there under. In many counties the local authority had before the passing of the Act authorized and promulgated schedules of fees payable by cattle owners to inspectors or other officials for certificates and licences. He wished to ask, first, Whether under the above clause such payments were forbidden and had become illegal? and next, whether the clause precluded the local authority from authorizing, under Section 8 of the Privy Council Order of the 24th of March, allowances payable from the county rate, calculated on items of work done by its officers, whether by granting certificates, or licences, or otherwise?
MR. H. A. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that the clause applied only to the levying fees from persons applying for licences or certificates, or making declarations; but did not preclude the local authority from 772 paying their inspectors by allowances for items of work done, instead of salary.