§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the reason why Mr. John Yallop, at the Wood Green Urban Council audit on 6th September last, was refused the right of inspecting the correspondent books connected with the audit; if he can 1149W state the section of the Public Health Act under which the vestry clerk acted in refusing the inspection of all books at the audit; if he can state the cost of the incorporation inquiry at Wood Green, and whether any part of the cost was borne by the rates; if any part of the cost has been borne by the guarantors; and if any portion is due to the rates?
§ Mr. BURNSI am informed by the clerk to the Wood Green Urban District Council that, on 6th September last, when the books and accounts of the council were on deposit for the inspection of persons interested prior to the audit, as required by Section 247 of the Public Health Act, 1875, Mr. Yallop requested inspection of all the correspondence of the council, and that he subsequently obtained a summons against the clerk for refusing to allow inspection of all correspondence relating to any payments made by the Council on account of the expenses of the application for a Charter of Incorporation. I am informed that the summons was dismissed by the justices. As regards the costs of the application for a Charter of Incorporation, the amount expended from the rates is £545. Two hundred pounds of this was allowed by the district auditor in the accounts of the council for the year 1908–09, and £345 was disallowed by him at the next audit, and an appeal against his decision is now before me. The guarantors appear to have paid £265 as part of the expenses, and nothing has been contributed from the rates towards this sum.