My Lords, the salaries and allowances, which are borne on the Votes, paid to Resident Magistrates in Ireland, are governed by a Statute well over forty-five years old. These Magistrates are appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, and their salaries are today very low compared with the salary of other men in similar positions. Under this Bill it is proposed to empower the Lord Lieutenant to make orders prescribing the scale and rates of salaries and allowances of Resident Magistrates. At the present moment their maximum salaries are £675, £550, and £425 respectively. Having regard to the increased cost of living, and to the onerous, not to mention the difficult, conditions under which they do their work, it is considered that the statutory maxima are now quite inadequate, and it is proposed, under tins Bill, to abolish the present. classification and raise these salaries and allowances to an extent which will involve an increased charge on the Exchequer of something like £14,000 a year.

Can the noble Earl tell us what the maximum will be?

I cannot say. The Bill merely empowers the Lord Lieutenant to change the salaries and allowance, but I can easily find out into what categories the changes will fall.

I presume there will be grades?

Yes, there are three grades.