§ MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Woodstock)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the position in which boards of guardians are placed through want of control over the officers whose salaries and pensions the ratepayers are called upon to provide; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to the provision of a remedy.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I have received a resolution on this subject from 274 the Woodstock Board of Guardians. Boards of guardians possess considerable powers of control over their officers, and, except in the case of their principal officers, have the power of dismissal. As regards the principal officers, the consent of the Local Government Board is required to dismissal, but, where there is cause for dissatisfaction, it is competent to the guardians to make representations to the Board.