§ 40. Mr. W. THORNEasked whether the President of the Local Government Board is aware that the appointment of unqualified persons without a knowledge of the duties of the office as relieving officers inflicts hardship and suffering on the poor who are compelled to seek relief; that a hardship is inflicted on the selected candidate if his appointment cannot be confirmed, in that he has often given up his previous occupation and thus finds himself out of employment; that, should his appointment be confirmed, hardship is inflicted on the many qualified persons who, acting upon the recommendations of the Royal Commission, have given time and money to qualify and then find themselves passed over for unqualified persons; and whether, considering the doubt that exists amongst boards of guardians as to the proper interpretation of the Local Government Board's circular letter on the subject, he can see his way to adopt the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the matter and make an Order that no person be appointed relieving officer who has not had previous experience in the duties or obtained the certificate of a recognised examining board?
§ Mr. BURNSI have given a good deal of consideration to this question, and have issued two circular letters on the 18th March, 1910, and 25th March, 1912, impressing on boards of guardians the necessity of appointing suitable and well-qualified persons to the responsible office of relieving officer. I am not aware that doubt exists among boards of guardians as to the views of the Department in the matter, and I do not think it is either necessary or desirable at present to make any such rigid regulations as my hon. Friend suggests.