HC Deb 14 May 1888 vol 326 cc160-1
MR. H. CAMPBELL (Fermanagh, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a bailiff named Joseph Graydon, residing at Rosslea, County Fermanagh, is a member of the Local Dispensary Committee in Clones Union; is his house used as a dispensary; is he in receipt of rent from the Union for the use of the house; is it the fact that he is paid by the Union for permitting his servant to act as attendant to the medical officer; does he also receive a salary for acting as Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; was the rent of the dispensary increased some time since; and, if so, on what grounds; is it true that this man's son is a shopkeeper in Rosslea, and that it is to him the people requiring tickets entitling them to medical relief have to apply; and, whether, if the facts are as stated, he will take steps to remedy the matters complained of?

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

The answer to the first three paragraphs of the Question is in the affirmative. It is the case that the rent paid by the Union included remuneration for the servant's attendance. Mr. Graydon did not receive any salary from the Union, or any other public fund, for acting as Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The rent of the dispensary has not been increased since 1878, when it was raised from £8 to £12. The Board of Guardians appeared to be unanimous in granting the increase, on the ground that the accommodation was equal, if not superior, to that at Rosslea. It is the case that Mr. Graydon's son is a shopkeeper at Rosslea. He has no legal authority to issue tickets for medical relief.

MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)

asked, if the Chief Secretary, when he said that this man received no salary from a public fund for acting as a Deputy Registrar, was aware that the salary which was given to him was portion of that given to him by the Registrar who employed him?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, if the Registrar chose to remunerate someone to assist him he was not aware that that should be considered as coming out of the public funds.

MR. H. CAMPBELL

asked, on what grounds had the rent of the dispensary been raised?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, on the ground that the accommodation, in the opinion of the Guardians, was superior to that which was being paid for already by them.

MR. H. CAMPBELL

asked, whether this man, while in receipt of rent from the Union, was eligible to be a member of the Dispensary Committee?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he did not imagine that his receiving rent disqualified him.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

said, he understood the Chief Secretary had stated that it was not legal that the son of this man to issue medical relief tickets. Did the right hon. Gentleman, then, approve of the fact that the people who required medical relief were obliged to go to his shop?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he had told the House that he was not aware there was any ground for believing that the son did issue tickets.

MR. H. CAMPBELL

asked, was it not the fact that Graydon's son actually did issue these tickets; and would the right hon. Gentleman ascertain whether he did so or not?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he was not aware that he did; but if the hon. Member would give him any evidence of the fact he would make further inquiry.