§ MR. W. J. CORBETasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the Account of Receipts and Expenditure under the Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Act, from which it appears that the amount of Licence Duty received for the year 1881 is £32,321 4s. 0d., and the amount expended £27,607 8s. 4d., leaving only a balance of £5,268 15s. 9d. payable to the several counties and towns, after deducting expenses; and, whether he can inform the House how it is that so large an expenditure is incurred in the collection of this Tax?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the explanation is that a portion of the amount collected goes to the Petty Sessions Clerks' Fund as part-payment of their salaries, as the hon. Member will find if he consults the Petty Sessions Clerks' Act of last Session. I may remind him that the Dogs Regulation Act was not passed for the purpose of raising a tax, but for the protection of sheep.