§ MR. W. ALLEN (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the chairmen of certain parish meetings have ruled that it is unnecessary for the trustees of parochial charities to lay a copy of their accounts, similar to that 731 which the Charitable Trusts Amendment Act directs shall annually be sent to the Charity Commissioners, before the parish meeting; and whether this ruling is in accordance with the law; and, if not, whether he will issue some instructions for the guidance of chairmen on this subject?
§ MR. BRYCEMy attention has not been called to this matter; but I may refer my hon. Friend to Sub-section (6) of Section 14 of the Local Government Act, 1894, under which the accounts of all parochial charities, not being ecclesiastical charities, are to be delivered within 14 days from the day appointed for making them out, to the chairman of the parish meeting, who is to present them at the next parish meeting. I understand that a circular on this subject has been issued by the Charity Commissioners.