§ Mr. WALTER LONG (Liverpool, West Derby),in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, explained that under the law as it now stood Poor Law officials were entitled equitably to a pension which in the majority of cases they received, but occasionally Boards of Guardians exercised the right which they possessed to decline to recognise the 1350 services of the officer. This Bill proposed to give a statutory right of pension to Poor Law officers. It was provided, however, that the Poor Law Officials should make a contribution similar to that made under the Civil Service Pension Fund, to vary according to the number of years' service. The question had been brought to his notice while at the Local Government Board, as it had also been before the notice of many of his predecessors; and he believed this Bill contained a compromise which could be accepted by the House. If the Bill was passed into law he believed it would remove what had been for more than 20 years a very vexed question; and he was confident that the House would do well to accept it.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE, Bradford, Central)said, that on behalf of the Government he had no hesitation in supporting the Second Reading of the Bill. It would require a good deal of consideration in Committee; but, so far as he could understand, its general principle was not unfair to the public.
§ MR. J. W. LOGAN (Leicestershire, Harborough)objected.
Mr. A. PEASE, Mr. WARNER and Captain NORTON appealed to the hon. Gentleman to withdraw his objection; but he persisted, and the Debate accordingly stood adjourned.