§ MR. HAZELLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether any regular system is adopted before the appointment of Local Gevernment Board Auditors to ascertain whether they possess the requisite technical knowledge of local government law and principles of accountancy; whether the clerks to Local Government Board auditors can be discharged by such auditors without any cause being shown; and, if so, whether it is intended to take such steps as may be necessary to give to the clerks of such auditors the same protection as is given to relieving officers; whether a case has recently been brought before the Local Government Board in which a Local Government Board auditor had for several years been appropriating the salary payable to his clerk, although the monthly receipts had been regularly signed by such clerk; and whether it is intended to adopt any system by which protection can in future be afforded to such clerks.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.In reply to the first paragraph of the question, the qualifications of the candidates for auditorships under the Local Government Board are carefully considered in all cases before an appointment is made, with a special view to their knowledge, experience, or capacity for the duties of the office. The case to which I presume the hon. Member refers in the third paragraph of the question occurred some few years ago. An auditor's clerk alleged that the auditor had not paid him his salary for some months, although the monthly receipts had been signed by the clerk. The auditor, however, alleged that the clerk had received money to a larger amount belonging to him, and that in this way the salary had been paid. An inquiry was held, but the evidence on this point was conflicting and unsatisfactory. Both the auditor and the clerk have ceased to hold office. The clerks to the auditors are appointed by the audi 238 tors, and can be discharged by them without cause shown. They are not in any way officers of the Local Government Board, and I see no sufficient reason for altering the arrangements with regard to them.