§ MR. DALRYMPLEasked the Vice President of the Council, If he would state on what principle promotions in the Education Department are regulated, particularly from the office of examiner to that of senior examiner; and, if promotion by seniority be the rule, on what grounds it is ever departed from?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONSir, the principle upon which promotions are made in this Department in no way 1580 varies from the practice of other Departments. When a vacancy occurs, the special qualifications of all those who might reasonably hope to be promoted are carefully considered by the head of the Department, and among those qualifications length of service would undoubtedly be regarded. On the other hand, not only is there no rule that promotion should be by seniority, but the principle has been laid down by successive Commissions that promotion in the upper branches should be regulated either by positive merit or special official aptitude, and not by seniority, and the Department has always proceeded upon that principle.