§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the returning officer for the election of Guardians has the power to reject the nomination of a married woman who in respect of qualification is the same as though she were a widow?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThe practice of the Local Government Board where the question has been raised as to the right of married women to be elected as guardians has been to decline to interfere with the decision of the returning officer. The question is one of law, and is of such importance that if there is to be any decision on the point the Board consider that it should be a decision of 897 the High Court. If the Bill which I had the honour of introducing to the House on Tuesday is passed into law, the question will be finally settled, as by one of the provisions of that Bill married women will be qualified to be elected as Guardians.