Metropolitan Asylums Board (Stewards).
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Board will adhere to their recently expressed decision not to make any reduction in the status of stewards who may be appointed by the Metropolitan Asylums Board who have been classified as principal officers since the formation of the Metropolitan Asylum District in 1867, especially in view of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress to improve the status of officers generally; whether the duties of steward will in future, as heretofore, be clearly defined by orders of the Local Government Board; and whether the existing orders of the Local Government Board, dated the 10th February, 1875 (Article 71, No. 14), meet the wishes of the managers of the Metropolitan Asylum District without any further alteration?
I have had this subject under consideration. The managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board are desirous that some alteration should be made in the existing orders with regard to the status of future stewards, and I propose to issue an Order dealing with the matter. The duties of the stewards will continue to be defined by orders of the Local Government Board.
Hellifield Parish Council.
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, under the Lighting and Watching Act, it is incumbent upon the Hellifield parish to have their annual meeting in the month of October for the purpose of the administration of that Act; whether he has received a communication from the Hellifield parish council explaining that it is very inconvenient and unbusinesslike that that meeting should be held after the lighting season has commenced and contracts for gas and lamplighting have been entered into; whether the vote approving of these provisions for last year was only carried by the casting vote of the chairman; and whether he can make an Order altering the date of the parish meeting from the month of October to the month of September, or some earlier month, so as to render more smooth the working of that Lighting and Watching Act?
I received last week a communication from the parish council to the effect stated in the question. I am not empowered to issue any Order in the matter, but I am not aware of any objection to the parish meeting for determining the amount to be raised for the purposes of the Lighting and Watching Act, 1833, being held in the month of September or some earlier month, if this is deemed convenient. I have informed the parish council accordingly.
Income Tax and Land Tax Commissioners.
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether county magistrates are ex-officio members either of the Income Tax Commissioners or the Land Tax Commissioners, or both; whether the Land Tax Commissioners and Income Tax Commissioners sit separately for each petty sessions, or can be combined together for either or both of those purposes; whether the petty sessions of West Staincliffe, Ewecross, and Bolton-by-Bowland, in the Skipton Division, have each Income Tax Commissioners and Land Tax Commissioners of their own, or are any of them grouped together, and, if so, which; where do they sit; and how is each body composed or selected?
(1) All persons acting as justices of the peace for any county within England and Wales are empowered to act as Land Tax Commissioners (7 and 8 Geo. IV., c. 75), but not as Income Tax Commissioners. (2) They sit separately for the Division in which they act. Petty Sessions do not exist as separate areas for Land Tax or Income Tax purposes. (3) The Petty Sessions referred to are included in the West Staincliffe Division. (4) Both bodies of Commissioners for that Division sit at Settle and Sedbergh. (5) The Land Tax Commissioners are appointed under the Land Tax Commissioners' Names Acts (Last Act 6 Edw. 7, c. 52). Income Tax Commissioners are appointed by the Land Tax Commissioners.
Postal Surveyor (Londonderry).
asked the Postmaster-General whether the senior assistant surveyor attached to the northern division in Ireland paid a visit to Londonderry about April last; if so, was such visit made in connection with Post Office business or in his capacity as an officer of the Territorial Force in order to attend to the daily evolutions of the troops in the local barracks; if the former, did his duties in the main consist of dealing with official correspondence, and could these equally as well have been disposed of from his official headquarters in Dublin; if the latter, had he permission to attend and daily participate in the military evolutions of the troops; if so, by whom was this permission granted; did he claim and has he been paid subsistence allowance for the period that he remained in Derry; and over what period did his stay extend?
The Assistant Surveyor referred to visited Londonderry on Post Office business in April last. He remained at Londonderry from 23rd to 30th April; his stay there was fully justified, and the duties which he performed could not have been discharged at his official headquarters in Dublin. I understand that this gentleman is a member of the Territorial Force, that he had to attend a certain number of drills in order to comply with the efficiency regulations, and that he was permitted by the military authorities to put in three of these drills in the scanty leisure time which he had while at Londonderry.
Valuers (Finance Bill).
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the valuers to be appointed under the Finance Ball are to be exclusively members of the Surveyors' Institute, to the exclusion of members of various valuers' associations recognised to be fully competent?
I may refer the right hon. Member to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on the 31st ultimo to a question by the hon. Member for South Hackney on this subject.
Walmer Castle and Grounds.
asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has suggested the free opening of Walmer Castle and grounds; whether objection to this was raised by the Walmer District Council; whether the Deal and Walmer Chamber of Commerce, representing the commercial interests of the whole district, has approved, with practical unanimity, of the free opening; and whether, in view of the fact that Walmer Castle is a building of national and historic interest, he could see his way to carrying out his original intention of removing the present restrictions to the free enjoyment by the public?
The answer to my ton. Friend's first three questions is in the affirmative. In view of the unfortunate difference of local opinion I do not intend to take any immediate action in the matter, but. I hope that the Walmer District Council may eventually find themselves more in accord with what I believe to be the general sentiment, so that I may be enabled to open this castle, with its interesting historic associations, to the public without charge.