§ SIR DAVID WEDDERBURNasked the Vice President of the Council, If he would explain why the title of "Examiners," a name given originally to University men appointed to set examination papers, should be retained in the Education Department, the scholastic work having been transferred to the "Inspectors;" and why this highly paid class of "Examiners" has been increased to the number of twenty-seven; and, whether the work usually done by the "Examiners," could not be done more economically and equally well by ordinary clerks, such as are employed in the Treasury, Board of Trade, and other Public Offices?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, I am informed that the preparation and revision of examination papers formed but a small part of the duties of the Examiners at the time of their original appointment in 1847. The scholastic work of these officers is lighter than it was at first; but in justification of the title given them, I may say that they examine the Reports of the Inspectors, and have to decide whether the conditions of annual aid are fulfilled by each school reported 1722 on and what grant shall be paid to it. They also conduct, under the secretary and Assistant Secretaries, the whole of the Correspondence of the Office, which, since the passing of the English Act of 1870, and the Scotch Act of 1872, has increased enormously and is increasing. In 1869, 23,0761etters and 11,178 Reports were received and dealt with. In 188C the registered letters were 76,684, and 22,612 Reports were dealt with. The number of Examiners has necessarily grown with the growth of the work of the Department. No increase has been made since we came into Office. The Examiners must be on a par with the Inspectors, whose work they supervise and control, and none of these duties could be intrusted to ordinary clerks such as are referred to in the Question; and the emoluments of the Examiners are not in excess of those of the gentlemen who discharge corresponding duties at the Treasury and other high class offices. I have had occasion to employ some of these gentlemen on missions of the most difficult and delicate character, and on a variety of other work, which could only be performed by men possessing their knowledge and attainments; and I can assure the hon. Member that they have uniformly discharged their duties to the satisfaction of the Department and to the advantage of the Public Service.