§ 41. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the accounts of returning officers in respect of the General Election of last year have yet been paid, and, if not, what are the causes of the delay; and whether his attention has been called to the hardship inflicted upon the clerks of returning officers, who are without payment on account of this delay?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)Some of these accounts still remain unpaid. The accounts of returning officers in respect of the General Election, which are accompanied' by numerous vouchers and details, require 1367 to be carefully examined, queries thereon involve correspondence and delay, and it is not possible to dispose of them in a short time. Some returning officers have not yet rendered their accounts, and many were only received in March. Returning officers have, on application, received advances to enable them to pay pressing claims, so that no hardship need be inflicted upon clerks.