§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, in view of the reasons given to him by the union and district councils of Athlone, county Westmeath, he will advise the Irish Local Government Board to reconsider their refusal to sanction the appointment of two clerks, instead of one joint one, for the two hoards, both candidates being properly qualified and the circumstances exceptional, owing to the fact that the district is divided by the River Shannon?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the alternative proposals are to continue the clerk of the union as the clerk of both rural district councils as heretofore, and to pay him about £200 a year, or to appoint a clerk of the union at £100 and two separate clerks of the district councils at approximately £70 a year each. I am informed that one official has always been able to discharge the duties of the combined offices, and the view the Local Government Board take is that it is more to the advantage of the ratepayers to have one competent responsible officer, paid an adequate salary, than to appoint three men to do work which can be performed by one at salaries on which it is almost impossible for them to live. The Board do not believe that the services of experienced and competent persons willing to undertake the responsible work of the sanitary and general administration of the districts could be obtained at such low figures. It192W is true that the rural districts are separated by the Shannon, but there is a bridge in Athlone, and the two councils meet and have their offices in the same building.