§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has observed that, in the concluding paragraph of the annual Report of the deputy master of the Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint, it is stated that the large increase of work has severely strained the energies of the staff, and that it was found impossible to keep the book work up to date; and whether it is proposed to strengthen the staff, as the deputy master suggests?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I have seen the paragraph referred to. Since the date of the Report—9th February, 1898—the deputy master of the Melbourne Mint has submitted definite proposals for increase of staff, which have been agreed to. A vacancy in the clerical staff has been filled up, and extra clerical assistance has also been sanctioned. It is understood that the arrears of work will be met with this additional assistance.