§ 36. Mr. TOOTILLasked the President of the Local Government Board, whether he has made any representations to local authorities urging them to employ discharged or disabled soldiers on the occasion of suitable vacancies; whether he is aware that the Hereford Board of Guardians have appointed a man of military age as clerk, and that it is proposed to appoint the same man as clerk to the Hereford District Council; whether it is necessary to secure the sanction of the Board for these appointments; and, if so, whether he will make inquiries into the matter and take any other steps calcu- 2116 lated to discourage local authorities from appointing men eligible for military service?
Mr. WALSHThe Local Government Board have not made any such specific recommendation as is referred to in the question. My right hon. Friend does not think that local authorities generally require any persuasion to induce them to offer suitable vacancies to discharged and disabled soldiers, and since the operation of the Military Service Acts there has been no need to discourage the appointment of men eligible for military service. With regard to the particular case referred to, namely, that of a solicitor, aged forty, the appointment of clerk to the guardians requires the sanction of the Local Government Board, and, in accordance with usual practice, it is proposed to inquire the. grounds on which the person proposed to be appointed has been exempted from military service. The appointment as clerk to the rural district council does not require any sanction on the part of the Department.