§ COLONEL DUNCAN (Finsbury, Holborn)asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether there are bills of costs still untaxed in the Chancery Taxing Master's Office, which have been lodged for taxation for more than a year; and, whether he will order a Return to be made, showing the date when each bill of costs now in the Chancery Taxing Master's Office was lodged there?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)In consequence of the Question of the hon. and gallant Member, I have made inquiries into the matter, and I have obtained Reports from the Taxing Masters which enable me to say that no bills requiring taxation have been lodged for more than a year. There is no difficulty in obtaining appointments for the taxation for any bill within a month of the application. Cases in which bills have remained untaxed for periods exceeding a year, are those in which the parties do not desire the taxation to be proceeded with. If the hon. and gallant Member desires, I will ascertain whether the Return in question can be prepared.