HC Deb 30 May 1905 vol 147 cc236-7
MR. MACVEAGH

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that after the passing of the Local Government Act a system of book-keeping for local authorities was devised by Mr. Ellis, a Local Government Board auditor in Ireland; that Mr. Ellis registered these books, caused them to be printed, and sold them to the various unions, asylum committees, and other bodies over which the Local Government Board exercises control; whether he can state if any royalties or profit have accrued to Mr. Ellis in connection with the sale of these rocks; and whether the Local Government Board sanctioned this arrangement.

MR. WALTER LONG

The system of wok-keeping for local authorities was not devised by Dr. Ellis, but by the Local Government Board with the assistance of their audit staff generally. The Answers to the remaining paragraphs of he Question are in the negative.

MR. MACVEAGH

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say Dr. Ellis did not make any arrangement to derive a royalty?

MR. WALTER LONG

I mean to say exactly what I have said.

MR. MACVEAGH

By whom were they copyrighted?

MR. WALTER LONG

I cannot say.

MR. MACVEAGH

That is my Question; I shall have to put it again.

MR. MACVEAGH

I beg further to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the new account books specified under the Public Bodies Order, 1904, of the Local Government Board in Ireland were devised by Mr. Ellis, Local Government Board auditor; if so, whether they have been registered; and whether Mr. Ellis will derive any profit from the sale of these books to public bodies over which the Local Government Board exercises control.

MR. WALTER LONG

No, Sir; but the Board consulted all their auditors when the Orders were being prepared. The new forms of account have not been copyrighted, and it is open to local bodies to obtain them from any printer they may think fit.

MR. MACVEAGH

As the right hon. Gentleman says the second set of books were not copyrighted, how is it he cannot give similar information as to the first set?

MR. WALTER LONG

The hon. Member asked if they were copyrighted by Dr. Ellis, and appeared to infer that he had a proprietary interest in the books apart from the Local Government Board.

MR. MACVEAGH

I shall repeat the Question: was the first set copyrighted?