§ MR. FRENCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Directors of Irish Convict Prisons for the year ending the 31st December 1875, and to the recommendation made therein in consequence of the uniform good conduct and very satisfactory discharge of their onerous and responsible duties by the officers of the convict prisons, that those officers should as regards retiring allowance be placed on as advantageous terms as county prison officials; and, whether he is willing to give effect to these recommendations?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHMy attention, Sir, has been called to the recommendation as to retiring allowances to officers of convict prisons contained in the last Report of the Directors of Irish Convict Prisons. The warders of Irish convict prisons are superannuated on the same scale as the English convict prison warder, both coming, as Civil Servants, under the provisions of the Act of 1859. The question must, therefore, be considered as a whole, and I am not prepared to make any proposition with regard to it.