§ MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the District Council of Birr have recently refused to pay the shorthand writer's fees for attending a recent Local Government inquiry, on the ground that such fees were excessive and could be avoided if the services of capable local reporters were utilised instead of bringing a man specially from Dublin; and, if so, whether, having regard to the continued complaints made by local authorities against the continuance of this practice at public inquiries, he will take steps to prevent it in future by employing local men.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Local Government Board have received no information to the effect stated in the first part of the Question. The fees for shorthand writing in the case referred to were not increased by the employment of a shorthand writer from Dublin, as no travelling expenses were claimed or allowed. It is the practice of the Board's inspectors to select local shorthand writers for this service when competent men are available, but it would be undesirable to lay down a hard and fast rule that none but local men should be employed.