HC Deb 26 July 1888 vol 329 cc518-20
MR. W. P. SINCLAIR&c.) (Falkirk,

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the appointment recently made by the Grand Jury of County Antrim of a county cess collector for the Barony of Lower Toome; whether the gentleman appointed, Mr. Richard Davidson, had offered to collect these rates at 9d. in the £1, while the unsuccessful candidate, Mr. John Hill, was prepared to collect the same rates at 4½d. in the £1; whether it is the fact that Mr. Hill had been the sub-collector for some years for the rates in this barony, and if any complaint was ever made against him as to the manner in which his work was done, or if any objection was raised as to the character of the security now offered on his behalf; whether the collector now appointed holds his position for one year only, or for any specially defined time; and, if he will urge upon the Grand Jury the duty of carefully considering, in the interests of the ratepayers, the rate of poundage paid to collectors appointed?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I have no official knowledge of the matters referred to in the Question, inasmuch as the Government have no control over the actions, whether administrative or judicial, of Grand Juries. I, however, caused the Question to be brought under the notice of the Secretary to the Grand Jury in case they desired to make any observations. He informed me that the Grand Jury were discharged several days ago; that Mr. Hill held no appointment under them, but a private position under their collector; also that the collectors of cess hold their position from one Assize to the next only, and that the Grand Jury have appointed a Committee to consider what rate of remuneration should, in future, be given to cess collectors, the Committee to report at next Assizes. I further understand that, in considering the applications of Messrs. Dawson and Hill for appointment, the question of poundage rate did not arise, inasmuch as the then existing rate of 9d. had been fixed for some years past, in accordance with the recommendation made by a former Committee of the Grand Jury which inquired into the matter.

MR. W. P. SINCLAIR

desired to ask whether it was not a fact that the gentleman who was appointed was appointed at the rate of 9d. in the £1 to collect the cess; whereas the gentleman who was not appointed had offered to collect it at 4½d. in the £1?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he was afraid he could not answer that Question without Notice; but if the hon. Gentleman wished it he would put a further Question to the Secretary of the Grand Jury on the matter.

MR. W. P. SINCLAIR

pointed out that Notice of this Question was comprised in the Notice on the Paper.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

supposed then that the Grand Jury did not think it necessary to give him the information. He had no control over that Body.

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

asked the Solicitor General for Ireland, whether the accounts of the Grand Juries in Ireland were not audited by a public auditor; and if it was not in the power of the auditor to surcharge the Grand Jury in such a case as this, where they corruptly paid double the necessary sum to an official; and also whether it was not in the power of the Judges at Assize to disallow these over charges?

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

said, it was not the function of the auditor to go behind the appointments made made by the Grand Jury.

MR. SEXTON

asked, was it not a fact that in the case of Municipal Bodies the Local Government Board claimed the power of surcharging under similar circumstances?

MR. MADDEN

said, that was a different case altogether. The auditor must go on the basis that this is a proper and legal appointment, and he could not possibly go behind the action of the Grand Jury in that respect.

MR. W. P. SINCLAIR

said, that amongst the papers which had been sent in to him since he put this Question was the actual tender made to collect the cess at the rate of 4½d. in the £1, which he now held in his hand.