§ Mr. SUTTONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mrs. Ashford, who for six and a-half years has been deputy-registrar for the Ardwick district of Manchester, and subsequently interim-registrar, has been suspended and dismissed from her employment after being duly elected as registrar for the Gorton district, where she has taken up her residence and prepared to take up her work, in consequence of statements communicated at the last moment to the guardians affecting her character and conduct, which have not been and cannot be proved; and whether, taking into consideration the character Mrs. Ashford has always borne and the services rendered which have recently been testified to by competent witnesses and confirmed by the report of the Registrar-General's inspection, he will inquire further into the matter with the object of having Mrs. Ashford reinstated in the position to which she was elected by the guardians and for which she has every qualification and fitness?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)In my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 22nd instant, I explained what had occurred in this matter. I have no power to require the guardians to appoint Mrs. Ashford in place of the person they have now selected, and there would be no advantage in making the inquiry suggested.