§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether it is proposed to make any increase in the scale of fees payable in the Registry of Deeds in Ire land; if so, on whose recommendation such increases were proposed; what is the necessity for the same; whether any opportunity will be afforded for discussing the proposed increases before bringing them into operation; and (2) whether there is at present any loss entailed by the working of the Registry of Deeds in Ireland; and, if so, the amount thereof and when such loss commenced?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe reply to the hon. Member's first. question is Yes. The Registrar of Deeds, in consultation -with the Treasury, recommended an increase in view of the continued yearly excess of expenditure over fees obtained. The last part of the question relates to the business of the House and I fear that I am not in a position to answer it. The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's next question is in the affirmative. The average annual loss for the last ten years is £3,400. From 1830 to 1865 the expenditure was met out of receipts and a surplus of £42,000 was paid into the Exchequer. Since 1866 the total expenditure has exceeded the total receipts by about £135,000.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland who is the Registrar of the Land Registry in Ireland and of the Registry of Deeds in Ireland; when he was appointed and under what Statute he holds office; what his duties are, and the salary attached to the office?
Mr. McKINNON WOODMr. Richards Manders, K.C., C.B., was appointed Registrar of Deeds and of Titles on the 1st January, 1908, and holds office under 6 Anne, c. 2 (Irish), Registry of Deeds (Ireland) Act, 1832 (2 and 3 William IV., c. 87), and Local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, 1891 (54 and 55 Vic, c. 66). It would not be possible in an answer to a question to describe his various and complex duties, but briefly they are the direction, management, and superintendence of all departments of the Registry of Deeds. He is administrative head of the Land Registry, reviews the work of the1258W examiners for the registration of title, hears and decides cases on title, and generally discharges quasi-judicial duties under the additional land judge. His salary for the joint office is £1,400.