§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Chairmen of Parish Councils elected under the Local Government Act of 1894 will be compelled to retire on the 15th of April next; and if, in such case, considering the short space of time they have been in office, namely the 31st of December last, arrangements can be made for their continuance in office until 1896, so as to give them and the Councils over which they preside some opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of their new duties?
§ MR. SHAW-LEFEVREThe Chairmen of Parish Councils will retire on the 15th of April next, but it will, of course, be competent for a Parish Council to re-elect the same gentleman as Chairman for another year. No arrangement can be made for the continuance in office of the present chairmen, without re-election, until 1896 as suggested, except by legislation; and I cannot say that I see any sufficient reason for proposing an alteration of the law in this matter.