HC Deb 02 April 1895 vol 32 cc720-1
MR. ELLIOTT LEES

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to the hardship imposed upon fishermen representatives nominated to serve upon Fishery Committees, in that no provision is made for the payment of expenses incurred by them in attending the meetings of such Committees, whereas the expenses of county and borough representatives may be paid for out of the rates; whether he is aware that the utility of Fishery Committees is frequently impaired by the non-attendance of practical men such as the fishery representatives, who are unable to give up sufficient time to attend the Committee meetings unless their expenses for attendance are paid; and whether he will take any action in the matter?

MR. BRYCE

The question of the payment of the expenses of fishery members of these Committees, when attending the meetings within their district, has frequently been brought to the notice of the Board of Trade. There are, however, so many difficulties connected with the subject that it has not been found possible to make any provision for such payment out of public moneys. It is not the fact that the expenses of County Council members are paid out of the rates, and though I believe that the expenses of Borough Council members are in some cases allowed, it does not follow that they come out of the rates, for they may come out of the borough funds. The expenses of all members deputed to attend the annual meeting at the Board of Trade may be paid out of the rates on the same principle, as in the case of Poor Law Conferences.

MR. ELLIOTT LEES

asked how the expenses of County Council representatives were paid?

MR. BRYCE

said, that when anything was paid it was paid on the understanding with the Local Government Board that the Auditor allowed the expenditure. That was the only way in which it could be done.

MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES

inquired if there was any legal difficulty in the way of paying the expenses of fishermen out of the rates?

MR. BRYCE

believed legal difficulties had occurred, but he had no sympathy with them.