§ MR. WARTONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, What was the annual amount of salary, fees, and emoluments received by Edward Geale as Clerk of the Crown in Dublin; what annual amount, in salary and fees, is it contemplated will be received by George Fottrell who has been appointed temporary holder of that office; What amount of pension is to be paid to Mr. Geale; if the offices of Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Peace had been amalgamated on Mr. Geale's retire- 310 ment, what would have been the saving effected; and, if Mr. Geale had appointed a deputy, approved by the Government, what would have been the saving effected?
§ MR. HIBBERTMr. Geale's average receipts in the last five years were about £1,500 yearly, and his statutory pension is about £1,000 per annum. His successor will receive salary and fees from the same sources; but as the latter fluctuate it is impossible to predict how much his emoluments will be. There are separate Clerks of the Peace for the County and City of Dublin; and it is not possible to say what might have been the financial effect of the amalgamation, though there would probably have been a saving on the present temporary arrangement. The Government have no power to compel Mr. Geale to appoint a deputy, even had this been otherwise desirable; and it is, therefore, unnecessary to consider what would have been the financial effect of such a course.