142 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Mr. Michael Maley. — Are you aware of the amount of salaries paid?— The salaries and allowance have averaged about 6,500/. a year, exclusive of annuities # Is the amount of salaries also limited by law, and what is that limit?— 5,600/. per ( 15 May.) annum. Are vou aware whether any proportion of this excess has been disallowed by the Commissioners ?— There has, to the amount of 3,043/. that has never been refunded, as I understand. . . lias the evil augmented in any respect?— I do not know that it has; their funds will not allow them to augment it. Are you not aware of the act of the 54th of George the Third, by which the powers of the Board were augmented?— Yes, to 800/. a- year. Then did the disallowances to which you refer, and the excess of rent which you have stated, take place before the passing of the 54th of George the Third ?— Yes, they did. There is a power given to the Paving Board under the last Act, to build oil- stores and other offices; do you conceive that power has been beneficial to the public?— 1 think it has not; I think the expenses should be paid by a contractor. Have you any knowledge of any arrangement made with respect to those accounts which enables the Board to suppress the real amount of salaries paid?— Yes ; they charge as weekly wages where salaries have been paid. Can you give any instances ?— 111 the instance of a Mr. Bell; they appointed him at a salary of 300/. a- year as inspector, and they ordered it to be charged as weekly wages, to bring it under that head in the lighting department account; and I have no doubt, if I could obtain permission to examine the accounts, that I should find several such practices resorted to. Have you ever applied to get access to those accounts ?— I did not; I was well apprized that I should be refused. What reason have you to think you should be refused?— I was about applying at the time the principal clerk came to me to know how I got my information. Are there any other charges in the account which you consider to be prodigal, or wasteful in themselves ?— Yes; I think the charges for cart and horse- hire are excessive. Can you refer to the particular items of which you complain?— Yes; there has been for the purchase ot horses forage and stabling expenses ; the total in thirteen years was 39,000 /., making 3,000/. a- year for horses and forage, that is, exclusive of cart and horse- hire, for paving, for cleansing, and for flagging; how this 3,000/. a- year is expended, I will mention. Does not that include all the smiths and carpenters work, and iron and ropes?— It does; but then the cart and horse- hire is in itself an enormous expense. Part of this 3,000/. a- year is for horses purchased in one year, 323/.; for hay and oats, 1,075/.; for straw, 44/.; for bran, 36/.; for potatoes, barley and seeds, 34/. l8s.; and paid for harness and other trifling disbursements, 149 /., being a total of 1,650 /. Can you state whether the charge for horses and forage, and things of that de- scription, have diminished of late years?— Last year, I believe, they have; the charges for cart and horse- hire for the year ending 5th January 1814 amount to 4,776/. 8s. 4d.; January 1815, 6,668 /. gs. lod.; and to January 1813, 7,112/. 3< y. 9d. Can you give the Committee any information with respect to lighting?— I cannot, except as to the charges for oil that I have mentioned, except that I consider about 2,500 /. a- year might be saved by a contract. You have nothing more to mention on that subject ?— Nothing more. Have you any reason to imagine that there is any unfairness in the charges made lor oil, except the reasons which you have formerly alluded to ?— None; I am con- vinced that the charges have been excessive, and beyond what was paid. J here was a return made, in obedience to an order from this House, stating the amount of law- costs in January 1818; that return amounted to 1,836/. only ® have you any reason to know that the expenses incurred in law- costs were greater than that amount r- In that year the sum paid out of the funds for law costs was 3,607/. 5J. 11 Id. How have you obtained that information?- From the public accounts. fn^^ rVT yCT attention t0 any mode of reducing the amount of this taxation ?— 13y having the work executed by contract a t PreSpnt ?~ N° I1C- MaJ° r T^ lor has made a return; and lie says we do not approve of any that has been presented." Is