§ MR. HOPWOODasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he is aware that, in the case of J. A. Petvin, already summoned three times, twice convicted in full penalties, and three times condemned in costs in respect of refusal to vaccinate his child, notwithstanding the Local Government Board, by his direction in August last, sent a copy of his Evesham letter in relation to a prosecution then pending against Mr. Petvin, deprecating such repeated prosecutions to the Guardians of the Axbridge Union, that body has 18 ordered a fresh prosecution against Mr. Petvin in respect of the same child; and, whether the Local Government Board will signify to the Guardians, decidedly, its disapproval of such prosecution?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLSir, the convictions of J. A. Petvin were in respect of the non-vaccination of a child named Annie Petvin. The Local Government Board are informed that there has. been no prosecution in the case of that child since 1882. and that no further proceedings are contemplated. The Guardians have, however, ordered proceedings in the case of another child of Mr. Petvin, an order for the vaccination; of the child which was made in August, 1883, not having been complied with.
§ MR. HOPWOODDo the Local Government Board, then, approve of further prosecutions in respect of another child?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLThe: Board do not disapprove of repeated prosecutions in regard to another child in the same way that they disapprove of repeated prosecutions in respect of the same child.