Mr. MURRAY MACDONALDasked the President of the Local Government Board on what grounds he refused to sanc- 2278W tion the loan to the parish council of Gay-don for the improvement of the water supply of the parish?
§ Mr. BURNSFrom the information supplied to the Local Government Board, it appeared that the proposals of the parish council of Gaydon were outside the limited powers which a parish council possess in the matter of water supply. It was explained to the parish council that rural district councils are under an obligation to see that the parishes in their district have a proper supply of water and possess all necessary powers under the Public Health Acts for laying mains, distributing water, breaking up streets, and so on, and a copy of the correspondence was sent to the Southam Rural District Council accordingly. As it appeared, however, from the latest letter received, that the parish council had not approached the rural district council on the subject, I instructed one of my inspectors to confer with both authorities as soon as his engagements would permit. He hopes to do so next week.