§ MR. THORNE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the Swindon Board of Guardians declaring a scat vacant of one of its members on the grounds of his accepting Poor Law relief, in consequence of his sleeping in one of the casual wards for one night with a view of finding out what kind of treatment the casual ward people were receiving; and whether he proposes to take action in the matter.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaMy attention has been drawn to this case. A member of a Board of Guardians is disqualified under Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1894, if within twelve months before his election, or at any time after it, he has received union or parochial relief. The section further provides that where a member becomes disqualified for holding office the Board of Guardians shall declare the office to be vacant. If the action of the Guardian in question has brought him within the section, I am not empowered to remove the disqualification.