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the Vestry the power of appointing Overseers, and certain
powers possessed by Parish Councils.
There are really two distinct questions involved in the abovementioned
reference, which it would be desirable to deal with
separately; that is to say (a) As to the desirability of obtaining
an order for power to appoint Overseers, and (b) as to applying
for an order to confer on the Vestry certain powers possessed by
Parish Councils.
Appointment of Overseers–At present the Overseers of the
Poor are appointed under the Local Act of 2 Geo. III., cap. 58.
By the first section of that Act the Vestrymen for the time being
of the Parish are required to meet together on some day in
Easter week, and then and there make a list in writing of the
names of eight persons, being substantial householders in the
Parish, whom the Vestrymen think are fitly qualified to be
nominated and appointed Overseers of the Poor of the Parish.
This list has to be delivered to two Justices of the Peace for the
Division, who are authorised and required to nominate and
appoint any four, whom they shall think proper, of the persons
whose names are submitted to them, to be Overseers of the Poor.
By section 83 of the Local Government Act, 1894, it is pro.
vided that the Local Government Board may, on the application
of the Vestry, make an order conferring on the Vestry, inter
alia, "the appointment of Overseers and Assistant Overseers."
Should the Vestry, therefore, deem it advisable to apply to the
Board for an Order under the said section, authorising them to
appoint Overseers, and such Order be issued, the present system
of making a list of eight persons, and presenting it to the Justices
for the selection of four therefrom, would be discontinued, and
the Vestry themselves would be empowered to nominate and
appoint the four Overseers of the parish without any submission
to Justices.
Powers possessed by Parish Councils.—The same section
(33-1) which empowers the Local Government Board to confer
the appointment of Overseers on the Vestry, also enables the
Board to issue an Order conferring on the Vestry "any powers,