§ Brigadier-General Sir OWEN THOMASasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the action of the Hawarden Board of Guardians, who, at their meeting on Friday last, had the resignation of their clerk placed in their hands, and that they immediately resolved not to advertise the vacancy, but would at their next meeting appoint a subordinate official who was exempted from military service; whether it is the policy of the Local Government Board that all such vacancies should be advertised with a view to securing the 1310W best man; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take, seeing that many demobilised men would like the opportunity to apply?
§ Major ASTORNo notification of the resignation of the clerk to the Hawarden guardians has been received by the Local Government Board. The guardians may either advertise such a vacancy or give notice of the vacancy and enter the fact of such notice upon their minutes. While it is the desire of the Government that every opportunity should be given to demobilised men to secure public appointments for which they have the requisite qualifications, it is not within my right hon. Friend's power to require that advertisement shall be given of all vacancies which local authorities have to fill.