§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Official Assignees of the Court of Bankruptcy, Ireland, have complied with Section 68 of "The Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act, 1857," which provides that on or before the 1st March in every year there shall be laid before Parliament a Return by the Official Assignees in the form contained in Schedule B; whether it is the duty of the Judges or the Chief Registrar of the Court of Bankruptcy to ascertain that the said Returns are duly lodged within the time named in said section; whether the Chief Registrar before certifying the said Returns, as required by the said section, takes any, and what, stops to satisfy himself of the accuracy of the same; and why the Returns for the year 1892 were not lodged by the Official Assignee for nearly two months after the prescribed time?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle-upon-TyneWith reference to the 1st and 4th paragraphs of the question, I am informed that the Return referred to has not been presented for many years back at the date mentioned. It has, however, always been presented early in the Session, and no objection has appa- 910 rently ever been raised as to the requirement of the section of the Act quoted not having been strictly complied with. The Return required by the section is very long and complicated, and the time limited rather short. There appears to be no statutory enactment-dealing with the point raised in the 2nd paragraph of the question; but it may be assumed that the duty devolves upon the Chief Registrar. Regarding the 3rd paragraph, there do not seem to be any grounds for supposing that the Chief Registrar has neglected his duty in this respect.