§ MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.)(for Colonel HAMBRO) (Dorset, S.) asked the hon. Member for the Penrith Division of Cumberland, By what authority Her Majesty's Charity Commissioners, in the absence of any scheme for the management of the Milton Abbas School, Bland-ford, endeavour to restrict an appointment about to be made by the Trustees of the school, of a head master in, or intending to be in, Holy Orders, to a temporary appointment only; and, if he can assure the Trustees of the Milton Abbas Grammar School, that if they appoint a master under whom the school flourishes, and meets the requirements of the district, the fact that the master is in Holy Orders, or intends to take Holy Orders, shall not be a reason for the Charity Commissioners to remove him if at any future time they prepare a scheme for the school?
§ MR. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith)Under the Endowed Schools Acts the Charity Commissioners have authority to make a scheme for Milton Abbas School, and therein to direct that a new head master be appointed. By Section 18 of the Act of 1869, it is expressly directed that, in any scheme for such a school as this, it shall be provided that a person shall not be disqualified for being a master therein by reason only of his not being, or not intending to be, in Holy Orders. A scheme being now in contemplation, and the Trustees having meanwhile advertised for a master, "who must be already in, or preparing to take, Holy Orders," the Commissioners thought it right to advise them that any appointment so made should be regarded as temporary. In reply to the second part of the hon. 31 Member's Question, the mere fact that the master proposed to be appointed is in orders, or is about to take orders, will not afford a ground for interference with his tenure by the Commisioners. Beyond that the Charity Commission is unable to give any pledge which would in any way fetter the discretion of the Governing Body which may be appointed under any future scheme.