§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the nature of the arrangements made by the Lord-Lieutenant with reference to the amalgamation of the offices of the Clerk of the Peace for Belfast, Clerk of the Peace for county Antrim, 652 and Clerk of the Crown for county Antrim; what saving will be effected to the Treasury by the new arrangements; and whether the saving thus effected will be devoted to Irish purposes.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThese offices are united in the same person under the provisions of Section 8 of the County Court and Officers Act, 1877, and Section 69 of the Local Government Act, 1898. The amount of the salary, and of the allowance for clerical assistance, has not yet been fixed. When fixed it will be paid out of moneys voted by Parliament. As a set-off, to some small extent, to this charge the fees hitherto received by the Clerk of the Peace and Clerk of the Crown will be paid into the Exchequer. In the result a burden not hitherto borne by the Treasury will be transferred to Imperial Funds to the relief of local rates.
§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)Is it not calculated that a very large saving will be effected by the amalgamation.
§ MB. WYNDHAMAt any rate it is a bargain resting upon a statutory provision.