§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the appointment of master and matron of the Hastings institution, in which sanction has only been given for a limited period, in view of the decision of His Majesty's Government to reform the present system of Poor Law administration; whether there are any special reasons in adopting such a course in this case; and, if the reason be justified, why a similar procedure has not been adopted in all subsequent appointments of statutory officers in the Poor Law service?
§ Sir A. MONDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Guardians desired that the appointment of the master should be temporary, and my Department assented to this course for the reasons stated. In answer to the last part of the question, I am informed that this course has been adopted in those cases, and only in those cases, in which the Guardians have asked that the appointments should be so limited.