§ MR. THORNE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the Southminster guardians' election, where two candidates by the name of Messrs. Pipe and Downing were elected, at the same time holding contracts under the Maldon Union for the supply of boots and conveyances, and who took their seats in defiance of a protest made to the returning officer (Mr. White, of Maldon) before the votes were counted; and whether he intends taking any action.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have no authority to deal with the qualification or disqualification of candidates at an election of guardians, but I have made 491 inquiry with regard to this case, and I understand that before the counting of the votes at the election a protest was made on the ground referred to in the Question. I am, however, informed that no contracts were then or are now held by either of the two candidates mentioned. It is stated that one of them has been accustomed from time to time occasionally to supply a pair of boots or shoes to paupers, but that since his election he has stopped supplying them, and that the other has never since his election supplied conveyances to the guardians.