§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is an essential qualification for the office of storekeeper in a lunatic asylum in Ireland that the candidate should be a retired quartermaster sergeant in the Army or Navy; and, if not, will he cause inquiry to be made with reference to an advertisement issued by the Board of Governors of the Mullingar Lunatic Asylum, headed "To retired Quartermaster Sergeants," and stating that at their meeting on Thursday, the 13th instant, they will proceed to elect a storekeeper to that institution; and, whether, as many suitable persons who have not served in the Army or Navy may have been deterred from offering themselves as candidates in consequence of the notice in question, he will cause the election to be postponed, and an altered advertisement issued?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) said (Dublin University)The Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums report that the qualification mentioned in the Question is not essential. They state that the advertisement referred to appears to have been more directly addressed, but under restrictions, to retired quarter-master 1751 sergeants, the previous storekeeper at the asylum, who had held that position, having proved a most efficient official. It is open to other candidates to present themselves. The Inspectors cannot undertake to recommend the course suggested in the last paragraph.