§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state under what authority does the petty sessions clerk for Dromore and Dromara district make charges varying from £1 10s. to £3 when signing the necessary documents in commital of dangerous and other lunatics; whether he is aware that this petty sessions clerk received payment of £2 10s. from Joseph M'Cree, Turganbane, Dromore, brother of a dangerous lunatic, Scott M'Cree, who was committed to Downpatrick Lunatic Asylum on the 26th June last; and, if so, will he say what steps the authorities will take to have inquiry made into this and other charges, and to put a stop to this practice, and to have the moneys refunded.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) A representation on this effect was recently made by a man named Hunter to the registrar of petty sessions clerks, by whom the matter was personally investigated, and who satisfied himself that the complaint was entirely without foundation. The only fee charged in such cases is the statutory fee of a few shillings representing the value of the petty sessions stamps used. In the case of the committal of Scott M'Cree, the amount paid by Joseph M'Cree was 3s. 6d., and the latter has made a written statement to that effect.