§ LIEUTENANT-COLONEL TUFNELL (Essex, S. E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will explain why the Local Government Board auditor has disallowed the amount paid hitherto for the ringing of the bells of the parish church, Islington, on the King's birthday, which prevented the hells being rung on Sunday, 9th instant; and whether he is aware that the ringing of the bells on this occasion has been done for many generations.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)The question which the auditor had to determine was whether this expenditure could legally be defrayed by the Borough Council out of the rates. In his opinion it could not, and hence it was his duty to disallow the charge. He has stated his reasons for the disallowance in the book of account, and it is competent for any person aggrieved by his decision to address an appeal to me against it. The validity of these reasons would then be carefully considered, and if it was found that the disallowance had been lawfully made it would be competent for me to remit it on equitable grounds. I should be quite ready to give favourable consideration to any such appeal.