§ MR. WILLIAM JONES (Carnarvon, Arfon)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a Mrs. Price, who, for nearly a year during her husband's illness, performed his duties as relieving officer at Oswestry to the satisfaction of all, was after his death unanimously appointed by the Board of Guardians to the vacant office; and whether this appointment was legal; and, if so, on what grounds did the Local Government Board withhold its assent to the proposal of the Guardians that the office should be held by Mrs. Price?
§ MR. CHAPLINI am not aware that Mrs. Price acted as relieving officer fir nearly a year during her husband's illness. The arrangement referred to was not reported to or made with the concurrence of the Local Government Beard. Although there may have been cases were a woman has temporarily discharged the duties of relieving officer, there is no instance in which the Board have sanctioned the appointment of a woman to that office, and I see no reason for departing from the practice in this platter, the reason for objecting to the appointment being that there are some duties devolving on a relieving officer which cannot he equally well performed by a woman.