§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Who are the salaried officials that are paid for the collection of the Dog Tax in Ireland; whether it is a fact that 350,000 dogs were licensed in Ireland during the past year, yielding a total of £35,164; whether the cost of collection amounted to £31,867 or nearly 90 per cent of the amount collected; and, what is the usual percentage cost for collecting the Dog Tax in England?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN)(who replied) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)said, clerks of Petty Sessions were the officials who collected the Dog Tax in Ireland. 351,644 dogs were licensed in Ireland during the year 1886, yielding a total of £35,164. From this sum £31,993 was deducted, of which £15,814 was for the cost of collection, and the balance, £16,179, was required to meet increased salaries under the Act of 1881.
§ DR. TANNERIs it not a fact that the cost of collection is 90 per cent in Ireland and only 5 per cent in England? Cannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman make the deduction?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order !