§ MR. J. H. PARNELL (Meath, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) what were the salaries of the Local Government Board auditors previous to the additional duties thrown upon them in auditing corporation, town commissioners, etc., accounts; (2) whether the auditors get all the fees imposed for audit on these bodies in the first year for this additional duty, and what did it amount to; (3) did the Treasury increase the auditors' salaries; and, if so, how much; and do they receive the several sums fixed upon for the audits of corporation, etc., accounts, and how much does it amount to; (4) whether, if the fees of the Treasury exceed the increase made in the salaries, he will consider the advisability of reducing the amount paid by corporation town commissioners or of paying for these audits out of the Imperial Treasury; and (5) whether he can say in what manner are the audits of corporation, town commissioners, etc., paid in England, Scotland, and Wales?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe salaries of auditors before the additional duties referred to in the first paragraph were imposed upon them were £600 annually. The reply to the second paragraph is in the affirmative. The cost of audit of the accounts in question was originally calculated at £1,516. 13s. 4d., which is still the amount charged to the local authorities, although the number of towns and the expense of auditing their accounts have since largely increased. The salaries of the auditors were increased to £700 in December 1872, and the contribution of £1,516. 13s. 4d. by local authorities is repaid to the Treasury under Section 6 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1872. I see no reason to believe that the local authorities are overcharged in respect of the work done for them. I have no information regarding the last paragraph of the Question.