MR. BEADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, about five months since, Mr. Soefeldt, a Dane, was appointed manager of the Military Pay Examiners Office, Madras; whether, according to despatch 10th July, 1879, the previous consent of the Secretary of State ought to have been obtained; whether such consent was previously applied for, or given; whether candidates for positions in the Military Accounts Office are required to pass certain exa 1754 minations; whether Mr. Soefeldt has passed any such examination; whether the post of manager Military Pay Office, Madras, has usually been held by a Native, and whether it is one of the posts usually reserved by the Government for Natives; whether, at the time of the appointment of Mr. Soefeldt, there were hundreds of qualified Native candidates who had passed the necessary examinations; and, whether any information has reached him that the giving posts to Europeans capable of being held by Natives, and usually held by Natives, is now causing great irritation in Madras?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)(1.) Mr. Soefeldt appears in The Calcutta Directory as second senior clerk in the Military Pay Office, Madras. The Secretary of State has not heard of his promotion to be "Head Assistant" of that Office; (2.) If Mr. Soefeldt has been so promoted, the previous consent of the Secretary of State was not necessary; (3.) The Secretary of State is not aware whether any examination is requisite on promotion in the Military Pay Office; (4.) No; (5.) The promotion would naturally be given in the office if a fit person could be found there. There were only six clerks in the office to which Mr. Soefeldt belonged, of whom three bear European names; (6.) No information of any irritation such as is described in the Question has reached the Secretary of State.