§ MR. BRODRICKsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether the European Assurance Society is the only Company whose security can be accepted by guardians on behalf of their officers, tinder the regulations of the Poor Law Board; and, whether under all the circumstances, it is still their intention to compel guardians to accept such security?
§ MR. GOSCHENsaid, in reply, that the Poor Law Board did not compel guardians to accept the security of any particular assurance company. The general order required the officers to give a bond with two sureties, and if they preferred to give the security of any company whose statutes expressly authorized them to guarantee the faithful discharge of duties, they were at liberty 869 to do so. It happened that the European Assurance Society was the only company of the kind whose statutes expressly authorized them to give such security, and their Act of Parliament stipulated that they were to keep a certain reserve fund, under the control of the Lords of the Treasury, to meet any claims on the part of the Government or local authorities, which fund was not available for any other creditors. The Board would gladly extend their sanction to any other company which would take upon itself similar obligations.