§ MR. CURRAN (Duaham, Jarrow)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether men who are employed during this winter on relief works under poor law guardians will be penalised by disfranchisement.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI presume my hon. friend refers to cases in which men receive relief from the guardians and are set to work as a condition upon which the relief is given. In such a case the recipient of the relief would be disfranchised. Of course, where the guardians carry out works and persons are employed for that purpose at wages in the ordinary way, these persons are not disfranchised.
§ MR. CURRANWas it the intention of the Prime Minister to remove disabilities from people who are employed this winter by boards of guardians in stoneyards?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSIt is well within the recollection of the House that the Prime Minister's pledge and promise, which has been kept, applied to all workmen who were employed through distress committees and not by boards of guardians.
§ MR. CURRANWill those who are employed for a temporary period this winter in stoneyards under boards of guardians be disfranchised?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSYes; I believe they would be.