§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if ho has seen a resolution, passed unanimously by the Belfast Board of Guardians, protesting against the scale, recently fixed by the Local Government Board, regulating the fees under the Franchise Act of the Clerks of Unions and Poor Rate collectors; whether the Local Government Board will re-consider the matter, in order that these officers may be better remunerated; and whether an arrangement will be made to pay such fees out of the Consolidated Fund?
§ MR. ASQUITHA resolution of the nature indicated has been received from the Belfast Board of Guardians. The new scale of remuneration for the duties under the Franchise Acts of clerks of Unions and poor rate collectors had most careful consideration, and the amount now fixed was deemed adequate for the work to be done, having regard to the interest of the ratepayers. In the absence of any considerable volume of opinion against the scale on the part of Boards of Guardians it is not proposed to alter the scale. As at present advised, the Government cannot undertake to ask Parliament to place the charge upon Imperial funds.