§ MR. W. REES-DAVIES () PembrokeshireI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the action of the Chairman of the Parish Council of Carew, Pembrokeshire, relative to the recent annual parish meeting for the election of councillors; whether he is aware that the Parish Council met on the 6th ult., and, in accordance with Section 45 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1894, fixed Saturday evening the 20th ult. for the parish meeting as being the most convenient date for the electors to attend; and that the Chairman of the Parish Council, who was absent from the meeting referred to, subsequently issued notices convening the parish meeting for Thursday the 18th ult., a day unsuitable to the electors; whether the Chairman had any power to override the action of the Council, and whether the notices were consequently illegal; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent a recurrence of such action in future?
§ MR. CHAPLINThe Parish Council were not empowered to fix the day on which the election of Parish Councillors should take place. The Regulations as to these elections provided that the parish meeting for the election of councillors should be held on the 18th March, or on such of the three preceding days as for special reasons might be fixed by the County Councils. No other day, as I understand, was fixed by the County Council, and I do not see that the Chairman acted illegally in the matter.