§ MR. KENDAL O'BRIEN (Tipperary, Mid.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will state what was the amount expended by the late postmaster, Mr. H. A. Acres, in fitting up and furnishing the Roscrea, county Tipperary, Post Office, in the year 1893; whether a percentage, and how much, was annually paid him in respect of his outlay on such fittings and furniture; whether the percentage was apportioned in any manner; whether, on Mr. Acres being pensioned in 1902, was he compensated for his outlay, whether any portion of his outlay, on which the Department was paying him 5 per cent, per annum, has not been refunded to him, and permission refused to him to dispose of the fittings and furniture, which are at present in use in the post office; and, if so, whether, seeing that Mr. Acres complains of the nonpayment for a portion of the fittings and furniture retained by the post office, an inquiry will be made into the case, with a view to the payment of his claim.
LORD STANLEYMr. Acres appears to have expended about £70 upon adapting and fitting up the post office at 1245 Roscrea, in 1893. Of this amount £24 was for structural alterations and £46 for office fittings and furniture. He received 5 per cent, per annum in respect of the structural alterations and 10 per cent, in respect of the office fittings, according to the usual practice. In December, 1902, the office fittings were purchased from Mr. Acres at a price which had been agreed upon with him. He has, therefore, no claim to the fittings and furniture in use in the post office, and I do not understand that any such claim has been made. A claim has been made for the return of the amount expended on structural alterations, but such a claim could not be admitted.