§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that Dr. Nash, J.P., a pensioner of the Manorhamilton Union, acts as an ex-officio guardian on that Board; whether, under the twenty-second section of the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth Victoria, chapter eighty-three, it is enacted that no paid officer engaged in the administration of the law for the relief of the poor, or under the Medical Charities Act, and no person receiving any fixed salary or emoluments from the poor rates in any union, shall be capable of serving as a guardian in such union; and, if so, whether the Local Government Board will continue to permit Dr. Nash to act as a guardian on a Board from which he draws a pension, and under which he was formerly an official?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe facts are as stated. It is true, I have been told, that superannuation allowances are not classed as salary or emolument. There is no question that salary would disentitle him, and what are usually regarded as emoluments, such as fees and perquisites; but the Board is advised that the law does not interfere with the retention of such office in the ease of superannuation.
§ MR. HEALYUpon whose advice and authority is that law laid down; is it upon the advice of the Attorney General for Ireland?
§ MR. TREVELYANI gather that that is the usual rule as regards Civil Servants. The Attorney General for Ireland was not consulted.
§ MR. HEALYI beg to give Notice that, on Report of the right hon. Gentleman's salary, I will raise this Question; and call attention to the way in which the pensioner of a Board in Ireland is allowed to sit on that Board and vote other people pensions.
§ MR. O'KELLYWill the right hon. Gentleman state under what law this pensioner is allowed to sit?
§ MR. TREVELYANIt is not under law, but under the interpretation of law.