§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether a London Vestry, elected under the Metropolis Management Act, 18 & 19 Vict. c. 120, can, under the Free Library Act of 1855, be interpreted to mean "a Board," or "an authority," for putting into execution the Free Public Libraries Acts without the aid of Commissioners; and, whether the Kensington Vestry was justified, on 13th July, in postponing for three months the election of Commissioners, after a majority of the ratepayers had decided that the Free Public Libraries Acts should be adopted, and that "the Commissioners be appointed forthwith?"
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)In reply to the hon. Member's Question, I have to say that the point raised in his Question is one of considerable difficulty. In my opinion, a London Vestry elected in the ordinary way is not "an authority" for putting into execution the Free Library Act of 1855 without the aid of Commissioners. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I have no knowledge of the circumstances under which the Kensington Vestry postponed the election of Commissioners; and I am therefore unable 246 to express an opinion as to whether or not they were justified in so doing.