§ CAPTAIN DONELANOn behalf of the hon. Member for North Gal way (Mr. D. KILBRIDE), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Petty Sessions Clerk for Newcastle West, county Limerick, takes a fee of 2s. 6d. from each publican in the Petty Sessions district of Drumcollogher and Newcastle West for the magistrates' certificate which is issued at the annual licensing sessions; whether the clerk has shown the receipts of these fees in any accounts furnished by him to Dublin Castle, as required by the Statute 41 and 42 Vic, 1630 c. 69; and, what is the date of the last Return so made with the number and amount of fees received?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURPublicans are required to supply, and to properly fill up the forms of certificate granted at the annual licensing Petty Sessions. This is not a duty imposed on the Clerk of Petty Sessions, and where, as in the present case, the clerk provides and completes these forms, it is customary, I understand, for publicans to pay a fee to the clerk. The matter is one of private arrangement between the parties, and no return is made, or required to be made to the Department of the Registrar of Petty Sessions clerks of sums so received by these officials.