THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MOREEY, Newcastle-upon-Tyne)said, he wished to move for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law in regard to the examination and appointment of surveyors in Ireland. The measure could not in any quarter be regarded as in any way contentious. The position in regard to surveyors at the present moment was this: When a county surveyorship became vacant only then and not before could examinations be held for the purpose of testing the fitness of those who desired to fill the appointment. After the examination a surveyor could not be appointed until his examination had been approved by the Grand Jury of the county. It had been found that great inconvenience had followed from that state of things. Attention was called to the inconvenience by Chief Baron Palles in a Charge to the Grand Jury. The alteration proposed was that an examination might be held at such time as the Civil Service Commissioners—and not the Board of Works, which was hitherto the body entrusted with this matter—and the Lord Lieutenant together should agree upon. The result of this examination would be that a list of persons competent and eligible for the office would be framed. What would 249 happen then would be that the Lord Lieutenant would at once nominate for the list so prepared a person to fill the vacancy, and the nomination of the Lord Lieutenant would remain effective unless it was disapproved of by the Grand Jury. As it was at present the nomination was not valid until the Grand Jury had sanctioned it. The change proposed to be made was that the appointment should be valid unless the Grand Jury when next assembled disapproved of it. That was the object of this Bill, and that was the method by which it was proposed to attain it. He thought everybody would feel that the change was one that would be acceptable.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amemd the Law in regard to the examination and appointment of Surveyors in Ireland."—(Mr. J. Morley.)
MR. T. M. HEALYwas entirely opposed to any tinkering with the Grand Jury laws of Ireland until they were completely dealt with. He (lid not intend to offer any opposition to the Motion of the right hon. Gentleman, but there were so many subjects that needed alteration in Ireland that why the right hon. Gentleman should attach himself to this particular one was inexplicable to him. He trusted that the very proper rebuke that the Speaker had just given to the draftsmen of Bills would be attended to in the title of this Bill, and that there would be no attempt in it to tamper with the salaries of the officers.
MR. J. MORLEYI can assure my hon. Friend there will be no such attempt. It is merely intended to amend the law with regard to the examination and appointment of county surveyors in Ireland.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. J. Morley and Sir J. T. Hibbert.
§ Bill presented, and read first time. [Bill 216.]