§ Mr. PATRICK WHITE (Meath, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, as Mr. Justice Jelf considered it his duty to call public attention to what he described as a very extraordinary state of things, he proposes to make any further inquiries into the circumstances under which Mr. W. G. Ackworth, a manager of the London and Provincial Bank, was appointed treasurer to the West Ham Guardians in 1903, and into the fact that Mr. Ackworth, who admitted having paid nearly £100 in respect of his election and that the money had been all refunded to him by the head office of the bank, was still manager of his branch at an increased salary.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have informed the West Ham Guardians that I shall consider the position of those officers whose conduct came under notice at the recent trial, and that I have instructed one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Local Government Board to report to me on the subject. One of the cases to be considered is that of the treasurer. I can only deal with it so far as his position as treasurer is concerned. I have no 82 jurisdiction with regard to him as manager of the bank.
§ SIR BERKELEY SHEFFIELD (Lincolnshire, Brigg)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was at the time a director of the bank?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSNo, Sir; and if I had been it would not have affected my action at all.