§ MR. MELLORsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether Sub-Inspectors of Factories are authorized to request Boards of Guardians in the manufacturing districts to appoint Police Constables Inspectors, for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Factories and Workshops Act; and, whether Boards of Guardians can legally make such appointments, the Police not being subject to their control?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that a Sub-Inspector of Factories did ask a Board of Guardians to appoint an Inspector. This was an error on the part of the Sub-Inspector of Factories, and he had been so informed by Mr. Redgrave. Boards of Guardians were, in no case, the local authority, nor had they power to appoint a police-constable to enforce the statutes. The local authorities in boroughs were the Common Council, in districts where there were local Boards of Health these local Boards, and in country parishes the Vestries, but never the Boards of Guardians.