§ MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the salaries of certain officials attached to some Government Departments do not appear on the Estimates, their salaries being paid by way of fees and poundage, thus making it impossible for any Member to raise on the Estimates any question relating to the work or salary of such offices; and, whether steps will be taken, either by inserting a nominal salary on the Estimates or in such other way as may be expedient, to enable the House to discuss the work or salary of officers paid by fees and poundage?
§ MR. HANBURYI understand that the hon. Member is referring to officers of the Woods and Forests Department. Possibly the question could be raised on the salaries of the Commissioners, but probably it could not, as the officers are not paid out of voted moneys. A Select Committee of 1857 recommended that they should be paid from the Votes, but the Treasury decided against it, on the ground that it raised questions connected with the present arrangement of the Civil List; £100 might, however, be placed on the Votes for the purpose of bringing the officers' action under review, but without prejudicing the general question, and I am disposed to think this should be done.