§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Islington Vestry has, contrary to its own bye-law, appointed Dr. Wynn Westcott to the office of medical officer of health, Dr. Westcott having been, until 2nd March, a member of the Vestry and of the Public Health Committee; whether this appointment was made without previous advertisement, and against the votes of many members of the Board, including the Chairman of the Public Health Committee; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made before confirming the appointment?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George'sI understand that the Vestry of the parish of Islington have appointed Dr. Westcott as medical officer of health as a temporary arrangement for six months, and that he was a member of the Vestry and of the Public Health Committee of the parish until the 20th February, but then he sent in his resignation. The bye-laws of the Vestry provide that no person shall be eligible for election to any paid office under the Vestry who is a vestryman within six months next before the election, but this bye-law, it appears, was suspended by another bye-law, which allows of such suspension if two-thirds of the vestrymen present vote for it. The 343 appointment was made without previous advertisement, and 45 members voted in favour of it, and 22, including the Chairman of the Public Health Committee, against it. I am in communication with the Vestry with reference to the proposal to make an appointment for six months.