HC Deb 03 December 1888 vol 331 cc830-1
MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can state the reason for reducing the amount of payment made this year to the scrutineers appointed to report as to prices of produce, &c., for the temporary adjustment of judicial rents; and, whether he will mention why some of the articles, the prices of which regulated the amount of reduction in the rents of last year, were omitted from this year's list?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) said (Dublin University)

The Land Commissioners inform me that the reduction in the rate of the remuneration of the scrutineers is due to a reduction in the amount of work to be performed by those gentleman. Last year they were obliged to ascertain the average prices affecting agriculture for each of the years from 1881 to 1885, inclusive, as well as for the current year; also to furnish Returns of every article mentioned in the Schedule; while now they have only to ascertain the average prices affecting agriculture for the current year, and the labour of ascertaining the prices of the scheduled articles is now divided between them and the Inland Revenue officers. The Commissioners state that there is no important deviation between the articles mentioned in this and last year's lists. They believe that, for all practical purposes, the lists are substantially the same.

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

said, that the reply, no doubt, explained the diminution in the number of days during which the scrutineers were employed; but he had not yet answered why it was that the scrutineers were paid three guineas per day last year, and only two guineas a day this year.

MR. MADDEN

presumed that the amount of remuneration was calculated with regard to the amount of work done.

MR. M'CARTAN

inquired why it was that the price of straw last year, being high, was included in the list of articles to which regard was had in the fixing of rents, while this year, when it was low, it was omitted?

MR. MADDEN

said, he was unable to answer as to any particular article without Notice.