HC Deb 31 March 1898 vol 55 cc1478-9
MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that, on the 21st instant, at a meeting of the Clonmel Corporation, the Town Clerk's salary was raised by £75, and the Town Surveyor's salary raised by £52, in order to entitle them to increased salaries under the Local Government Bill, when it becomes law; and whether these increased salaries, in a town of about 10,000 population, will be in future assessed on the county at large?

MR. W. ABRAHAM (Cork Co., N.E.)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question I wish to ask him whether he is aware that the increases of the salaries of the Town Clerk and the Surveyor were in consequence of the additional duties cast upon those officers owing to the acquiring of the gas works and the new water works, and the extension of the borough boundary; and whether there is the slightest foundation for the insinuation contained in the Question of the hon. Member—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is now rather making an attack upon the Question.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I understand that the salaries of the officials mentioned in the Question were increased by the sums stated, not for the purpose of entitling them to additional salaries under the Local Government Bill when it becomes law, but in consideration of the largely increased work of these officials consequent upon the recent extensions of the Clonmel boundaries. The salaries of borough officials will, in future, as in the past, be paid out of borough funds.

MR. G. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid)

Will provision be made in the Irish Local Government Bill to secure that the salaries of such officials are based on calculations under the old Act?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That does not arise out of this Question.