§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the anomalous condition of the existing Law and practice relative to the Superannuation of Poor Law Officers, by recent cases which have occurred in the two adjacent unions of Farnham and Alton, a superannuation allowance having been granted in the former union and refused in the latter to an officer of advanced age and long 1653 service; and, whether he has it in contemplation to propose any amendment of the Law with a view to greater uniformity in future?
§ MR. DODSONMy attention has been called to these two cases, and I cannot but regret that they were not dealt with by the Guardians of the two Unions on the same favourable principle; but, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the grant of superannuation allowance is entirely within the discretion of the Guardians, the Board having no jurisdiction to require them to grant a superannuation in any case; and it would be a matter requiring very serious consideration to undertake to propose any amendment in the law which would deprive the Guardians of their discretionary power.