§ MR. CONDON (Tipperary, E.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the fees payable on the appointment of a county justice of the peace in England and Wales amount to £2 altogether, and only to 5s. if the commission is conferred by reason of the holding of an office such as the chairmanship of the county council; what are the fees payable in Ireland in these cases, respectively; and whether he will take steps to give Ireland equality of treatment in this matter.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. CHERRY,) Liverpool ExchangeThe statement in the Question of the amount of fees payable on the appointment of county magistrates in England and Wales is not quite accurate, as can be seen by reference to the Parliamentary Return ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on April 20th, 1894. (Parliamentary Paper No. 82.) No fees of any kind are now payable on the appointment, or swearing in, of ex-officio justices, such as chairmen of councils under the Local Government Act. Such justices can be sworn in without the payment of any fee before resident magistrates sitting at petty sessions. The 43 Commission of the Peace issued to ordinary magistrates must, under the Rules of Court made pursuant to the Judicature Act of 1877, bear judicature stamps denoting the payment of £6. This fee is collected in the Crown and Hanaper Office, and transmitted through the Inland Revenue to the receipts of the Public Exchequer. No other fees of any kind are payable in respect of the appointment or swearing in of a magistrate in Ireland.
§ MR. CONDONWhat are the fees payable in England?
§ MR. CHERRYI believe they vary in different counties. The hon. Member can see by referring to the Parliamentary Paper I have quoted.