§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to recent proposals of the Irish Local Government Board for the increase of the salaries of county surveyors in Ireland and their deputies; and whether, in view of the serious objection taken to these proposals, they will be reconsidered.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)Where the duties of a county surveyor, or other "existing" officer, are increased, the Local Government Board are required by the terms of Section 115, Sub-section 18, of the Local Government Act, to fix the increase of salary proportionate to the increase of duties, in the event of the council failing to arrive at an agreement with their officer in the matter. The Board are aware that in several instances dissatisfaction has been expressed by councils at the award of the Board on the ground that it is considered excessive; but, on the other hand, equal dissatisfaction has been expressed by many of the officers concerned on the ground that the increase of salary is not commensurate with the increase of duties. The Board's award was arrived at in each case only after the fullest consideration, and cannot now be reconsidered, as suggested.