§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that five Poor Law guardians in the Newcastle West Union, in the County of Limerick, were surcharged by the auditor £21, being for ten weeks at £2 2s. a week, which he considered they overpaid Dr. Ambrose, who was appointed to do duty for the medical officer of the workhouse and dispensary there at £7 7s. per week; whether he is also aware that at first Dr. Condon and Dr. Ambrose wore appointed for workhouse and dispensary at £4 4s. a week each, and that Dr. Condon having got ill Dr. Ambrose was requested to do the duty of both at £7 7s. a week; and whether, having regard to the fact that the guardians actually saved £1 1s. a week by Dr. Ambrose doing the combined duties to the satisfaction of the guardians 1733 and poor of the district, he will, as President of the Local Government Board, cancel this surcharge.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BIRRELL,) Bristol, N.The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. It is not the case that there was a proposal to appoint Dr. Condon and Dr. Ambrose as temporary medical officers for the workhouse and dispensary respectively, at £4 4s. a week each. Dr. Condon himself was on sick leave when the temporary appointment was made. When the guardians proposed to appoint Dr. Ambrose at £7 7s. a week, the Local Government Board twice pointed out that the usual rate was £5 5s. a week, and warned the guardians that they would be personally liable if they paid a higher rate. Notwithstanding those warnings, the guardians paid the temporary officer at the rate of £7 7s. a week, and the auditor consequently surcharged the excess amount. The surcharge was upheld on appeal, and there is no power to re-open the matter.