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MR. WILSON NOBLE
(Hastings)
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether anyone who is a wholesale wine and spirit merchant, and who advances money to publicans, can be allowed to sit and vote on the Watch Committee of a Town Council?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT
(Mr. JESSE COLLINGS, Birmingham, Bordesley)
The members of the Watch Committee of a borough are appointed by the Town Council, under Section 190 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882. I am aware of no legal disqualification which would prevent such persons as are referred to in the question being members of a Watch Committee. By Subsection 3 of Section 22 of the same Act it is enacted that—
"A member of the council shall not vote or take part in the discussion of any matter before … a committee, in which he has, directly or indirectly, by himself or by his partner, any pecuniary interest."