§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the reported proceedings in the Greenwich Police Court, on the 12th instant, in the case of the Lewisham District Board of Works against the New Land Development Association, in the course of which Mr. E. Wright, clerk to the Board, is alleged to have sworn that the Board were in the habit of dining sumptuously at the Crystal Palace, and driving in carriages to the Board meetings at the cost of the ratepayers, and disguising such items in the Board's accounts under the heading "Sundry Expenses;" whether he has made inquiries into the case; and whether it is his intention to take any action with regard to it?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George'sI have no information respecting the alleged expenditure of the Lewisham District Board of Works beyond that which appeared in the report of the proceedings in the case of the New Land Development Association at the Greenwich Police Court on the 12th instant. The accounts of the District Board of Works are not subject to the audit of the District Auditors appointed by the Local Government Board, and I have no jurisdiction whatever with regard to the expenditure of that authority. I have not, therefore, made any inquiries respecting the allegations, nor am I empowered to take any action in the matter.