DR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether complaints have reached him that owing to the fact of the extensive areas of the Petty Sessions district in Ireland, and the difficulty which frequently exists of finding petty sessions clerks at there offices, much inconvenience is experienced by those desiring to pay the licence duty on dogs, he will recommend the Inland Revenue Authorities to make arrangements for the sale of dog licences at such post offices throughout the country as are money order offices, giving for their sale remuneration similar to that given for the sale of money orders?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURNo complaints have reached the Registrar of Petty 373 Sessions Clerks of inconvenience to the public arising from the causes alluded to with reference to the issue of dog licences. The duty on dogs in Ireland is a local, not an Imperial tax, and is collected throughout the country by the clerks of Petty Sessions, who are local, and not Imperial officials. A portion of their salaries consists of remuneration from the dog tax for the issue of dog licences. Having regard to these facts, I do not see that the course suggested in the concluding portion of the question would be either feasible or expedient.