§ SIR HERVEY BRUCEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can inform the House the reason of the great diminution of the sums of money paid to the credit of the finances of counties in Ireland from the proceeds of the Dog Tax?
§ MR. TREVELYANBy the operation of the Petty Sessions Clerks Act of 1881, the salaries and pensions of Petty Sessions clerks became largely increased. The increased expenditure is met in the manner provided by Section 2 of the Act, which authorizes the Lord Lieutenant to make an order for the deduction of the required amount from the sums otherwise payable to local authorities. In this manner the balances of the Dog Tax available for payment to local authorities become greatly diminished.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked, was it not singular that there should be so large an increase in the salaries in that particular branch of the Service since the passing of that Act?
§ [No reply was given.]