§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recent correspondence between the Local Government Board and the Swinford Board of Guardians in reference to the appointment of a dispensary midwife in the Kilkelly dispensary district; and, seeing that the Court of King's Bench has recently decided that midwives are officers under the Medical Charities Acts, will he explain why the Local Government Board in this case refuses to treat the midwife as a medical officer.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe decision of the Court of King's Bench, which was to the effect stated, does not in itself entitle the guardians to recoupment of any portion of the salaries of these officers. The Swinford Guardians have been so informed.
§ MR. DILLONHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the character of the division? I understand the law is that a midwife is a medical officer. On what legal advice, have the guardians acted in refusing the recoupment?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am advised that legally it is impossible to make the recoupment unless legislation is introduced into this House amending the law.
§ MR. DILLONI shall raise the whole question on another occasion.