84. Mr. ATREYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has read the correspondence between a member of the Basford Board of Guardians and the Registrar-General as to the appointment of a registrar of births and deaths for the sub-district of Carlton, Notts; whether he is aware that the Registrar-General waived the age limit in favour of an applicant already holding a lucrative appointment, although a number of eligible candidates, including a discharged and crippled soldier, were applicants for the post; whether, seeing that it is laid down by the general rule, dated 16th May, 1905, with respect to the qualification of every person who may be appointed to the officer of registrar of births and deaths, that every registrar's age shall not exceed fifty years, but in case of an exceptional nature the Registrar-General reserves to himself the right to modify this limit of age, and that, as no circumstances of an exceptional nature existed or were suggested on the occasion of the appointment of the successful candidate, the Registrar-General will review his confirmation of the appointment, seeing that the successful applicant exceeds the age limit and is unable to personally make the necessary morning attendances as registrar by reason of his duties as schoolmaster?
§ Major ASTORI have read the correspondence to which the hon. Member refers, and am aware of the action taken by the Registrar-General. As I explained to the hon. Member for West Nottingham on the 11th inst., the Registrar-General advises that the claims of eligible men discharged from the forces should be preferentially considered by guardians when making these appointments, but he has no power to insist on the appointment of 2242 particular individuals. With regard to the last part of the question, I understand that the Registrar-General considered the applicant exceptionally qualified and that he is satisfied as to his ability to make the attendance necessary for the adequate performance of his duties.