Appendix ' ( A.) Mr. J. M. Hervey. ( 2 July) 108 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Will you have the kindness to look over that list of names.-— [ A paper being handed to the witness.]— Those are names of very respectable individuals in the city 1 of Limerick ?— Very much so, with scarcely any exception; the names of some of the first merchants in Limerick are here, and I see some of the members of the corporation are here. Those being the names of the commissioners of the parish of St. Michael's, can you state to the Committee whether they are individuals in whom the citizens at large can place the most perfect confidence for integrity of character ?— I should place perfect confidence in that list as to their acting with integrity; but I must be perfectly candid in saying, that there is no obligation on the commissioners to attend regularly, as there is neither fine for non- attendance, nor any payment for attend- ance ; I believe they do not attend as regularly as would be for the benefit of the concern under their care, and that was one of my reasons for not acting as a com- missioner, because there were no ex- officio commissioners appointed, and no obliga- tion upon the commissioners to attend; there being neither reward for attendance, nor fine for non- attendance. Do you conceive that the circumstance of their being commissioners for life, i3 not productive of very considerable inconvenience to the citizens at large? — I do think that it was a bad system to have any for life; there are some of the life com- missioners, I understand, that neither attend, nor will resign. Do you conceive that a legislative provision, by which the office of commissioner should be vacated, in case of non- attendance, would be a remedy to many of the inconveniences of which you now complain ?— I have no doubt of it. You stated, that there was some complaints in the year 1808 or 1809, against the persons who had the conduct of the toll, which was the first thing that induced the Chamber of Commerce to take it into their own hands; do you know who it was rented the tolls at that time ?— I believe they were rented by different persons ; they were put up to auction. Have not the directors of the Chamber of Commerce a direct control over the corn market in Limerick, by their own individual influence, and by their corporate influence ?— I do not understand the question. Have they not a control over the corn market of Limerick ?— I am not aware that they have any control that can interfere either with the laws, or with the authority of the magistrates. If the Chamber of Commerce were to resolve, that they would not themselves purchase any corn from an individual man, do not you conceive they would shut him out of the market ?— By no means, because the market does not depend upon the Chamber of Commerce; there are many purchasers who are not members of the Chamber of Commerce; I should explain to the Committee, that whenever we make a bargain with the chamberlain of the corporation, we take care to have a deed prepared by our law agent; that we call upon not only the members of the Chamber of Commerce, but every purchaser of corn in Limerick that we know of to sign it. This deed contains a covenant, that they will, during the year, stop from the farmers they purchase from, those deductions, and pay them once a fortnight to our secretary; and if that was refused to be signed by any individual doing any considerable business, it would break up the agreement entirely. Then the purchasers pay the whole tolls ?— The purchasers of the corn stop this commutation tax from the farmer, and they pay once a fortnight to our secretary. Then the toll is only upon goods sold in the market, not upon goods brought into market, which are not sold ?— It is only upon corn brought into the city and suburbs of Limerick and sold. Supposing corn is brought and taken away without being sold, does it pay the dues?— No; I believe there is no town in Ireland where the returns are so correctly made as in Limerick, and from those returns which the mayor allows us to take a copy of, we can ascertain how much every person has a right to pay to our secretary ; also, what quantity of corn he has received, and what the cost is, con- formably with the corn act of 1790. Then supposing a purchaser came into the market, who has not signed that deed, how do you force him to pay the tolls?— We just show him the deed, and ask for his signature; it is nothing out ot his pocket, and he knows very well that if, by his non- compliance with the regulations, he should be the means of breaking up that agreement between the corporation of the city of Limerick, and the Chamber of Commerce, it would throw every thing into confusion again; the tax would be again renewed