MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the frequent complaints made in the public Press by gentlemen of limited means who are compelled to serve the office of High Sheriff in Irish counties, with its accompanying considerable expense; and whether he will take some step, either by legislative enactment or otherwise, to relieve gentlemen whose net incomes are within a certain margin from being compelled to accept a position which entails on them an expense which their incomes are unable to bear?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Government have had for some time under their careful consideration the great hardship which exists in compelling persons to serve in the office of High Sheriff, which, though now practically an honorary one, entails considerable personal expense. The matter can, however, only be dealt with by legislation, and I fear that there is no chance of any Bill on the subject passing in the present state of business.