§ MR. DIXONasked the Secretary of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the parish of Puttenham, Surrey, where there is no School Board, the vestry, after completion of time formal business, decided to levy a voluntary school rate; and that such school rate has been actually collected along with the other rates of the parish without intimation being given on the demand note that the rate was a voluntary one; and, whether such a proceeding is not contrary to law?
§ MR. HIBBERTSir, beyond the information the hon. Member has given, the Local Government Board have no knowledge whatever on the subject. The Local Government Board has no power to interfere in any way with the vestry; but if the collector collected such a rate without any intimation of its being voluntary, I apprehend he would be liable to a prosecution for extortion, and if the hon. Member shows to the Local Government Board that such a case has occurred, they will inquire into it, and take such steps as may afterwards seem proper.