§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his Department has received complaints regarding the action of certain boards of conservators in Ireland in withdrawing watchmen from the higher reaches of rivers and spawning beds of 1693W salmon and trout, and in spending funds contributed by all classes of fishermen in patrolling the area frequented by drift-net fishermen in the salt water; and what steps the Department has taken in the matter?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLComplaints of this nature have not been received by the Department. The duties in connection with the matter are imposed by Statute on boards of conservators and the Department have no power to interfere with the arrangements made by these boards.
§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the accounts of the several boards of conservators of fisheries are regularly audited by the Department; if he will say by whom the vouchers are examined; and who determines the legality and propriety of the payments made and of the work done?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe accounts are not audited by the Department. The boards of conservators apparently appoint auditors, as the abstracts of their annual accounts, which are received by the Department, are signed in each case by the chairman of the board, and auditor and the clerk to the board.