§ Considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 3.
§ *MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I do not know whether the Government will accept the Amendment standing in the name of the hon. Member for West Belfast (Mr. Sexton), which will include the external officers.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERWhat is the connection of the Treasury with this Bill, and does it carry out in any way the recommendation of the Royal Commission?
§ MR. JACKSONI understand there is no Treasury question.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIt is purely a county question.
§ *THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRLLAND (Mr. MADDEN,) Dublin UniversityThe Bill is intended to apply to the same persons as those included in the existing Act providing a certain amount of superannuation. It does not affect the Treasury. The superannuation is intended for those servants who have given their whole time.
MR, SEXTONThe salaries and superannuation which out-door officers receive ought to be relative to their salaries. I cannot for a moment consent to the Bill passing for the superannuation of the internal officers, and excluding the others. I beg to move that you report Progress, Sir.
§ *MR. JOHNSTONI have no objection to accepting the Amendment, so far as I am concerned.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI strongly support the hon. Member for West Belfast. These matters come out of the County Rate, which is paid not by the 1547 landlord but by the tenants. Every penny of the pensions will come out of their pockets. This is a non-contentious matter, and I hope the Amendment will be accepted.
§ MR. MACARTNEYThis matter is not non-contentious, and it very nearly wrecked a similar Bill two years ago. I have received very strong objections to the Amendment from my constituents.
§ *MR. JOHNSTONI hope the Amendment will not be pressed. It is important that the Bill should be passed. The officials have been longingly looking for it during the last two or three years.
§ MR. CHANCEI would point out that there is power on the Motion of the Attorney General, through the Lord Lieutenant, to extend the pension list.
THE CHAIRMANThis discussion is wholly irregular. The former Amendment to which we agreed struck out certain words, so that it is impossible to add these words.
§ MR. SEXTONI think we had better not go further.
§ Objection being taken to further proceeding, the Chairman left the Chair to make his Report to the House.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again to-morrow.