§ Mr. SHERWELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now state the decision of the Treasury in regard to the payment of a war bonus to County Court clerks and bailiffs?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWEach case is considered by the Treasury on its merits, but the general practice is to authorise registrars and high bailiffs to grant their employés an increase of salary in the nature of a war bonus when it can be shown that the number of employés en-1644W gaged at a particular County Court is not in excess of the requirements of that Court. Where there is ground for thinking that there are more employés retained than the work of the Court justifies, the Treasury has refused the grant of a bonus, as it is considered contrary to the public interest to encourage by an increase of wages at the Exchequer's expense the retention of persons in occupations where they cannot be fully employed at present.