§ MR. M. McCARTANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland are prohibited from acting as Poor Law Guardians or Members of Municipal Boards; and, whether, considering the unanimous protest made against this disability at a meeting of the Petty Sessions Clerks held in Dublin some time ago, and in view of the fact that no such disability is imposed upon the permanent Civil Servants of the Crown in Ireland, he will consider the desirability of removing this disability and restoring their civil rights to Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURPetty Sessions Clerks are prohibited from acting as Poor Law Guardians or Members of Municipal Boards under an Order made by the Lord Lieutenant in 1884. This Order was issued in consequence of complaints having been made that the Poor Law Guardianship interfered with the performance of the duties of a Petty Sessions Clerk, and because Poor Law contests in Ireland often assumed a political aspect and Guardians in their corporate capacity were often parties to proceedings at Petty Sessions. I am not disposed, upon the information at present before me, to recommend the withdrawal of the Order in question.