§ MR. SHIRLEY (Yorkshire, W.R., Doncaster)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. T. Cox, at the Bow Street Police Court, on Wednesday, 31st August, and the granting of Jubilee bonuses to Vestry officials out of the rates; whether such bonuses have been paid with the knowledge and consent of the Local Government Board; and, if so, in respect of what services rendered; and, whether such bonuses have ever been paid before the present year in the parishes of St. Giles - in - the - Fields and St. George, Bloomsbury?
THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The Local Government Board have not sanctioned the granting of Jubilee bonuses to Vestry officials out of the rates; and they have no knowledge that any such payments have been made, either in the present year or in past years. In a letter of a Vestryman, which appeared in The Standard of to-day, it is stated that no such payments have, in fact, been made to any officer or servant of the Vestry; and that the sums referred to were granted for expenses incurred under recent Statutes for services in connection with the registration of voters.