§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the fact that in local government and civil administration Ireland is, as compared with Scotland, over-officered and her officers over-paid, and the burden placed upon the people least able to bear it, whether he will avoid aggravating 997 this burden by creating any new office, and take advantage of the measures now before Parliament to confer upon local bodies in Ireland power of reducing expense and increasing efficiency by combining kindred and overlapping duties, such as those of rate collector, sanitary officer, relieving officer, and any other duties of a like nature to be performed in the same area.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BIRRELL,) Bristol, N.Without discussing the assumption contained in the first part of the Question, I may say that the Government are fully alive to the desirability of economy in the administration of local government. It is in the power of local bodies to take action, with the consent of the Local Government Board, for the reduction of local expenditure, and the Board are always prepared to give the fullest consideration to any such proposals. I have no information showing that legislation is necessary as suggested, but the Local Government Board are prepared to consider any definite proposal which the hon. Member may make.