§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR(for Mr. F. W. MACLEAN) (Oxford, Woodstock)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether it is consistent with the provisions of the Vaccination Acts, or the orders of the Board, that clerks to the Board of Guardians should attend before Justices at Petty Sessions to represent the Vaccination Officers in prosecutions under the Acts, and that their fees for attendance should be ordered to be paid by the defendant; if not, whether the proper authorities will take steps to prevent such fees being so ordered to be paid in future prosecutions under such Acts?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)There is nothing in the Statute or the Orders of the Local Government Board which would be inconsistent with the Vaccination Officer, when necessary, obtaining the assistance of a solicitor to represent him in a prosecution under the Vaccination Acts, although the solicitor may hold the office of Clerk to the Guardians. The question as to whether the costs of the attendance of the solicitor should be charged to the defendant is one which rests with the Justices to determine, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, and the Board cannot interfere with their discretion in the matter.