§ MR. VICARY GIBBS (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Tonbridge Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners whether his attention had been called to the fact that there is only one Trustee of the Valentine Poole Charity now surviving, and whether the Commissioners, have been urged to sanction the appointment of additional trustees to fill the vacancies which have arisen; can he explain why the said Commissioners are not disposed to make the necessary Order otherwise than in connection with a scheme; and can he say when the Commissioners propose to give their sanction hitherto withheld.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. GRIFFITH BOSCAWEN,) Kent, TonbridgeThe Commissioners are aware that there is only one trustee of the above-mentioned Charity, but no application for an appointment of additional trustees has been made to them since April 1900. The reasons for desiring to make such an appointment in connection with a scheme are two—(1) that a comprehensive scheme for the administration of all the eleemosynary charities of Barnet by a single governing body has been for some time past in contemplation, and (2) that the question whether the Poole Charity might not be applied more directly for the benefit of the poor than at present might be considered and determined. In view, however, of the failure to obtain the necessary application from the trustee, the Commissioners are prepared in the circumstances upon a sufficient application to proceed with the appointment of two additional trustees for the Charity.