§ 31. Mr. SHEEHANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the clerks to the pension sub-committees in Cork county have received any payments since the quarter ended September, 1912; whether it was definitely stated when previous complaint was made that these officers would be paid more regularly and promptly in future; why has this undertaking not been carried out; and whether the advisability of paying them a fixed salary directly from the Treasury will be considered?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe last payment of fees to the clerks to the pension sub-committees in county Cork was on account of the quarter ended September 1912; no account of the fees due for any subsequent quarter has been received by the Board of Customs and Excise from the clerk to the county pension committee, and, therefore, no further payment has been made. I do not know what the statement is to which reference is made. If the hon. Member will refer to the last answer I gave him on this subject on 17th December, 1912, he will see I expressly disclaimed any responsibility for delay in payment which arises, as it does in this instance, from delay on the part of the clerk to the county pension committee in rendering the requisite accounts. I cannot regard the dilatoriness of this particular clerk as a reason for altering the present system of payment of fees.