THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNMy Lords, I rise to ask what alterations have been made by the Treasury in regard to the payments to be made by high sheriffs in connection with their office, and whether such alterations extend to high sheriffs in Ireland. Some little time ago, I think it was in the year 1896, the Government undertook that there should be an inquiry by the Treasury into the payments which are made by high sheriffs in connection with their office. That inquiry took place in England, and I believe a similar inquiry took place in Ireland; and in the other House of Parliament in the present year the Chancellor of the Exchequer mentioned that certain changes had been made in regard to some of those payments. My Lords, I have not seen that the details have been published or laid upon the Table of either House of Parliament, and I think your Lordships will agree with me that it is desirable that they should be made public in a form which will be seen, not merely by the persons holding the office of high sheriff, but by the public generally, and more especially by those who are liable to be called upon to serve in that office. My Lords, it is, of course, the expense which is connected with the office of sheriff which has occasioned so many persons to be unwilling to be named for that office, and it is, quite possible that if these reductions are considerable, there might be 417 some difference in the amount of unwillingness which persons generally display when their names are put forward. I wish also to ask whether the reduction in the expenses of the high sheriff extend to Ireland as well as to England. Some years ago I served upon a Committee which was appointed at my instigation to inquire into the payments made by high sheriffs both in England and Ireland, and we arrived at the conclusion, which was based upon facts laid before us, that the hardship was at least equal in Ireland. It seems to me, therefore, that it would be only just that whatever alterations are made in England should also extend to Ireland. I hope that may be the case.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY)My Lords, I have had a correspondence with the Treasury and with some of Her Majesty's judges with respect to the expenses incurred by the high sheriffs in connection with their office. The Treasury inform me that they have directed certain payments to be made out of public funds in relief of the necessary expenditure of high sheriffs at assizes in England, and that a circular to that effect was issued to the high sheriffs in February last. If the noble Earl desires to have a copy of the circular, I am sure there would be no difficulty in obtaining one. The Treasury state that the change does not apply to Ireland, but I may add that that matter is under consideration.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELANDMy Lords, the noble Earl who has asked this question said that he believed the difficulty was as great in Ireland as in England. Well, I have a very close and intimate knowledge of this question, officially and otherwise, and I gay that the difficulty is far greater in Ireland. The noble Lord has understated the case. Owing to the expense attending the office of high sheriff, the difficulty of getting gentlemen to undertake it is far greater in Ireland than in England. The difficulty in Ireland is a great and steadily increasing one, for the office of high sheriff entails so much expense to country gentlemen.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNMy Lords, I am glad to hear my noble Friend 418 say that, because there is no one who ought to be able to do more than the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to have this grievance attended to in Ireland, and I hope he will bear it in mind during the Recess. With the permission of the House, I will move that a copy of the circular, to which the noble Lord on the Woolsack has referred, be laid on the Table.
§ Question put.
§ Motion agreed to.