§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if, notwithstanding section 7 of the Petty Sessions Clerks Act, which provides that a vacancy in the office of petty sessions clerk serving two districts shall be filled by one person, the Government propose to sanction the appointment of two clerks for Moy and Charlemont districts previously held by one person; and, if so, why is the statute to be contravened?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe provisions of section 7 of the Act referred to are applicable only to two or more petty sessional districts which have been amalgamated under section 6 of the Act. Where such an amalgamation exists the districts are served by one and the same clerk of petty sessions. But the districts mentioned in the Question have not been amalgamated, nor is it legally possible to do so, inasmuch as they are in different counties. There is consequently no contravention of the provisions of the Act. It is, of course, in the power of the justices of the districts of Moy and Charlemont to elect the same person to fill the office of clerk for each district.