§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that about £80 has been transmitted as result fees to Belfast in connection with the Science and Art Department, South Kensington; whether, of that sum, only about £21 has been paid to Messrs. White, Ross, and Cumming, three of the teachers, and remainder has been retained by Mr. Robert Barklie, teacher of chemistry, and who is also a trustee of the Belfast Working Men's Institute; if the facts are as stated, does he approve of the distribution; and, if not, will he try to have it rectified; and, is the Mr. Robert Barklie above referred to the same Mr. Robert Barklie who was suspended from his position as a science teacher in 1867, for an attempted fraud on the department?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, I will answer the Question, as it is connected with the Science and Art Department. The facts of this case are as follows:—£437 5s. was paid to the Committee of the Working Men's Institute, Belfast, through Mr. T. H. Browne, their Secretary, on the results of the science examinations of the Institute, in May and June, 1883. Mr. Barklie is one of nine teachers on account of whose instruction this sum was paid; but the Science and Art Department does not know how much of this was paid to Mr. Barklie, or how much to each of the other eight teachers. The arrangements between local Committees and their teachers are a matter of private contract between the parties. The Department only looks to, and pays, the Committees. The Mr. Barklie referred to in the Question is the person who, when a young teacher, was suspended in 1867 for some irregularity; but he has subsequently proved himself an able and energetic teacher, and it seems cruel that an offence, for which he suffered 17 years ago, should now be raked up against him.
In further answer to Mr. BIGGAR,
§ MR. MUNDELLAsaid, that when instruction was given by several teachers 1482 the Department paid the Committee of the Institution, and not the individual teachers.