§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, If it is a fact that the coastguards in Ireland receive notification of the time when examinations for the positions of lighthouse keepers on the Irish Coast are to be held, and that the information is not afforded to the light keepers, whose sons are thereby deprived of the opportunity of competing for those positions; and, whether the same facilities will be given to sons of light keepers to compete for places under the Board of Irish Lights as are now given to the sons of coastguards?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD (Mr. C. T. D. ACLAND) (Cornwall, Launceston)(who replied)said: I am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that, on application being made for the appointment of lightkeeper, a printed form of questions as to age, antecedents, &c., is sent to the applicant, and should his replies appear satisfactory his name is placed on a list with others to be called up for examination as occasion may require, the number placed on the list at a time being generally restricted to 12, and a preference given to those who have either been to sea or brought up to some trade. When an examination is to be held, all the approved candidates 1700 get timely notice of the date thereof, no special notification being given to any in preference to others. As a matter of fact, there are in the service a number of men who are the sons of lightkeepers.