§ MR. COGHILL (Stoke-upon-Trent)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the salary of the Clerk of the Peace of the County of Stafford has been increased from £1,500 a year to £2,500 a year, with an allowance of £1,500 a year for clerks, although certain areas of the county have been removed from the county council by the creation of county boroughs, and whether such increased salary and allowance have received the sanction of the Local Government Board.
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYPerhaps I may be allowed to answer that in 1896, under the special circumstances of this case, I sanctioned a salary of £2,000, with £1,500 allowance for office expenses, the amount to be reconsidered on the occasion of a vacancy. Since then no recommendation has been made to me.
§ MR. COGHILLIs the holder of the office allowed to continue his private practice?
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYI do not remember as to that. I only know that under the special circumstances of this case I sanctioned this office allowance.