§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the committee of management of the Maryborough District Lunatic Asylum, at their meeting held in the board room of the institution in June last, reconmended the grant of a war bonus to the superannuated members of the institution; whether he is aware that the Local Government Board has not since sanctioned the payment of the grant; whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the cause of the delay on the part of the Local Government Board in sanctioning the payment of the grant as recommended by the committee; and whether he will give directions for the payment of the grant to these superannuated officers?
§ Mr. SHORTTIt is a fact that the committee of management of the Maryborough District Lunatic Asylum provisionally granted the superannuated members of the staff a war bonus if they had power to do so. The committee were, however, informed by the inspector of lunatics that they had no power to make such a grant, and they were also advised by their own legal adviser that if they did so they would render themselves liable to surcharge. The Local Government Board have not received any communication from the committee of management of the asylum on the subject mentioned in the question. Superannuation allowances to officers of asylums are regulated by Statute, and the Board have no function in relation thereto.