MR. O'REILLY-DEASEsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is prepared to reconsider the question of compensation to organists under the Irish Church Bill; and, whether, as such appointments are for the most part for life, he thinks that one year's compensation is adequate to compensate for the loss of office under the provisions of the Bill?
MR. GLADSTONEMy best answer, Sir, to this Question will be to refer to the Notice of Amendment which I have given in the second line of the seventh page of the Irish Church Bill. I do not think it is correct to say that such appointments are made for life. They are generally made without special limit of time. They are tenable during pleasure, but not entirely of a precarious character. In certain cases their emoluments come out of the Cathedral fund—non constat that they will in many cases be at all affected; but it would not be reasonable or correct to say that their offices are freehold. The effect of the Amendment will be that the cases will be inquired into, and it will be the duty of the Commissioners to find where any person is deprived of any income derived from any property or fund vested in them, by the Act, and to pay such further compensation as, in communication with the Treasury, they may determine. I hope that answer will be satisfactory. So far as the Government is informed, it is the best mode that could be adopted.