§ MR. BIGGAR (for Mr. HEALY)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, How soon after the death of Dr. Roughan Dr. Woodhouse was appointed to his position; whether Dr. Woodhouse has had any experience as a dispensary or union medical officer, or as a medical officer of health, and, if not, how he became entitled (other than by acting for a short time as temporary Inspector) to be placed over the numerous efficient Poor Law medical officers of Ireland, who have acquired a practical knowledge of the duties of such a position by passing through these different grades of the service; whether Dr. Woodhouse is a member of the 1891 secret society of Freemasons, and, how many members of the Local Government Board, and of their inspectors, are members of that society; whether there is any reason why officers occupying the higher grades of the service, in preference to deserving officers, if eligible, should not have a prior claim to positions of the Mud over outsiders; and, whether there would be any objections to making a rule that, before important appointments of this kind are made in future, twelve days' notice should be given by advertisement, as is essential in the case of minor appointments?
§ MR. TREVELYANDr. Roughan died on the 7th May, and his successor was appointed on the 15th. Dr. Wood-house has not been a dispensary or Union medical officer, or a medical officer of health; but he has the highest professional and personal qualifications for the post of Inspector; and, on the several occasions when he has been temporarily employed under the Local Government Board, has discharged his duty in an able and efficient manner. There are other qualifications necessary in a Medical Inspector besides previous know-lodge of the technical details of Union work; and the Local Government Board cannot recognize any obligation to limit the choice to medical men who have served as Union officers, or admit that such service entitles them to a preference over other men of high standing in the Profession. I am not aware, nor is the Vice President of the Board of. Trade aware, whether or not Dr. Woodhouse is a Freemason; nor can I say how many members of the Board, or of their Inspectors, belong to that society. Nor do I deem it any part of my duty to make inquiry into a matter which in no way concerns or affects the discharge of these gentlemen's duties, and has no bearing on Dr. Woodhouse's appointment. The course suggested of advertising vacancies amongst the Inspectors would be unnecessary, inconvenient, and wholly without precedent.