§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received from the Board of Guardians of the Banbridge (County Down) Union a Resolution on the subject of the transference to clerks of County Councils of the registration duties hitherto discharged by clerks of Unions, and whether he proposes to give effect to the suggestions contained therein.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Resolution has been received. The transfer of these duties to the secretaries of County Councils is provided for in Section 83 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1898. No hardship was imposed, however, upon clerks of unions by the change, as Section 121 expressly provided that no such transfer should take place in the case of existing clerks without their consent. Clerks since elected were aware, before taking office, of the terms of their appointments. The reply to the last query is in the negative.