§ MR. F. W. WILSON (Norfolk, Mid)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that owing to differences between the Forehoe (Norfolk) Guardians and the master of the workhouse, forty-four out of forty-seven members of the board resigned their seats, and that practically the whole of these guardians have been reelected by the ratepayers; whether the Local Government Board is sustaining the master against the board of guardians; and, seeing that meetings of the guardians have ceased through inability to form a quorum, what steps the Local Government Board intends to take to replace the public control by elected guardians which has hitherto existed.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Bristol, S.I am aware of the 1364 circumstances of the ease referred to in the first paragraph of the question. The number of members who tendered their resignation was, however, less than that supposed by the hon. Member, and these resignations did not take effect as I did not accept them. The guardians wished that the master of the workhouse should be removed from office; but, after an inquiry had been held on the subject by two of the inspectors of the Local Government Board, I came to the conclusion that there was no sufficient ground for his dismissal. The administration of the affairs of the incorporation devolves upon the guardians, and the responsibility for any difficulty which may arise from any failure to attend the necessary meetings must rest entirely with them. I have caused the guardians individually to be reminded of their duties and responsibilities, and I trust that there will be no further difficulty in the matter.