MR. JUSTIN HUNTLYM'CARTHYasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the clerks in the Record Branch of the Registrar General in Ireland have recently been compelled to remain in the office till 6 P.M., and deprived of the Saturday half-holiday, on the representation of the Secretary that a portion of the work of the Branch was in arrear; whether the clerks who are practically acquainted with the work in question unanimously deny that any arrears exist; and, whether it is in the power of a head of a department, in such a case, to extend the office hours of a particular branch without superior authority; also, whether the post of Chief Clerk to the Registrar General in Ireland was abolished as unnecessary, and the post of Secretary created with the same salary; and, whether the abolition of the former post was decided upon on the representations of the gentleman who is now Secretary; and, whether it is a fact that a gratuity or bonus of £1,000 was given to the Secretary of the Registrar General in Ireland in connection with the work of the Census Returns; what was the period estimated as necessary for the completion of the work in respect of which the gratuity was awarded; and, what was the time actually found necessary?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have been asked to answer these Questions, which deal with matters in which the Irish Government is concerned. The Registrar General informs me that the work of the Record Branch of his Department is in arrear. He is the judge of this, and he is certainly acting within his powers as Head of the Department in requiring his subordinate officers to work off the arrears in the manner stated. In 1877, after an inquiry held by the Treasury Remembrancer, the Chief Clerkship and one of the first-class clerk- 641 ships in this Office were abolished, and the office of Secretary created, with a salary the same as that formerly attached to the Chief Clerkship. These changes were made by the then Lord Lieutenant with the consent of the Treasury, and not at the instance of the gentleman who now fills the office of Secretary. The sum of £1,000 was given to the Secretary for work performed in connection with the Census of 1881. The time originally estimated for the work was four years. The Secretary was actually engaged for about three and a-half years. The Registrar General attributes, in a large measure, to the efficiency of the Secretary, the success of his efforts in bringing the work to a comparatively early close, whereby great economy was effected.