§ MR. SEALE-HAYNE (Devon, Ashburton)asked the President of the Local Government Board, If it is proposed to inquire into the circumstances under which Pepprell, the missing tax collector at Torquay, succeeded in embezzling £3,900, a large part of which, owing to insufficient security, must be re-assessed on the ratepayers; and, what steps, if any, will be taken to ensure that Public Authorities shall for the future enforce Article 9 of the General Order of Accounts, which enjoins that every collector shall, every week, pay to 1235 the overseers' bankers all moneys in his hands whenever the amount exceeds £5?
THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. LONG)(who replied) (Wilts, Devizes)said: Pepprell, the missing tax collector at Torquay, who embezzled £3,900, held the offices of collector of poor rates for the parish of Tormoham, and collector of rates of the Torquay Local Board. At present I have no precise information as to the circumstances under which the defalcations have occurred; but I propose to arrange that an audit of the accounts of the officer shall be held at an early date, and the facts will then be ascertained. The Article of the Order of Accounts, enjoining every collector to pay weekly to the overseers' bankers all moneys in his hands exceeding £5, applies to a collector of poor rates; and it is the duty of the auditor to report to the Local Government Board any case in which the requirements of that Article have not been complied with. In any such case it is the invariable practice of the Board to impress upon the officer the necessity for his strictly complying with the provisions of the Article; and, when it appears to be requisite, the Board bring the matter specially under the attention of the Local Authorities.