§ MR. McCARTANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland with reference to the expenses of the ex-officio inspectors of weights 211 and measures in county Derry; (1) whether he is aware that inspectors are obliged to advance the expenses out of their own pockets, and are entitled to be paid at the end of each quarter by the treasurer for the Grand Jury of the county; (2) whether the accounts furnished to the treasurer for the quarter ending 30th September last have not yet been paid to the inspectors, notwithstanding that the accounts for the quarter ending 31st December last have been settled; and (3) whether, considering that several applications have been made and publicity given to the matter in the Press, and the hardship to the inspectors in being so long kept out of the moneys so advanced by them, he will make inquiry as to the cause of delay in payment?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe practice is as stated in the first paragraph. I understand that it is the fact that although the accounts of these inspectors for the December quarter have all been paid, a number of the accounts for the previous quarter have not yet been paid. The unpaid accounts amount to £30. The delay in this matter has been due, I believe, to a mistake made in the office of the County Treasurer who cannot now be put into funds to meet the expenses until the approaching Assizes at Derry on the 23rd instant.