§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the' Local Government Board whether he is aware that, in consequence of Mr. W. D. Elsam, the vaccination officer to the Kingston union, having recently had to, take proceedings against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts, the National Anti-Vaccination League has held nine open-air public protest meeting in various parts of the Kingston union, and that at such meetings the lecturer for the league has represented that the officer has not the power to take such proceedings without first obtaining the sanction of his board of 799W guardians to do so; if so, whether the Local Government Board are still of the opinion that the power and the duty of taking proceedings against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts are vested in the vaccination officer under the Vaccination Acts passed prior to the Act of 1898 without any order of the Local Government Board or direction from the guardians; and whether he will issue a circular to boards of guardians and vaccination officers advising them of their duties under the Vaccination Acts?
§ Mr. BURNSI have received a communication with reference to the meetings referred to. In the opinion of the Local Government Board the power and the duty of taking proceedings are vested in the vaccination officer under the Vaccination Acts without any direction from the guardians. This opinion was expressed in a general circular issued to boards of guardians in 1898, and I do not consider it necessary to issue a further circular on the subject.