§ Mr. GINNELL asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number and average salary of the county court officials in Ireland whose duty it would be to distinguish 415 between riotous and non-riotous in cases of compensation awarded against ratepayers for malicious injuries; the average number of days they work in each year; the number of cases in which such damages were awarded in the last completed year; and whether the refusal to report the facts of the non-riotous cases was that of the officials themselves or of someone else on their behalf?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe county court officers charged with keeping a record of the compensation granted are the clerks of the Crown and Peace. Particulars as to their emoluments are given in the Estimates annually presented to Parliament, and in the case of Clare and Kilkenny (where the offices have not yet been united) in the Local Taxation Returns. They are bound by law to keep open office daily from 11 to 4 o'clock in the assize towns. The number of cases in which compensation was awarded for malicious injuries in 1908 was 481. Riotous and non-riotous cases could only be distinguished, if at all, by examination of the depositions in each case. The Clerks of the Crown and Peace are always ready to supply any information in their power, but I cannot ask them to undertake this task.
§ NEW MEMBER SWORN.—James Avon Clyde, esquire, K.C, for the West Division of Edinburgh.