§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War in how many instances within (say) five years when a valuable appointment in the War Office has been vacant and advertisements have been inserted stating that no candidate above a certain age need apply, applications having been sent in in accordance with such conditions, the appointment has thereupon been given to persons above the age specified; and, whether, in the recent case of the appointment, at a large initial salary, of an Inspector of Clothing, aged 46 (all other candidates having been informed that no one above 40 need apply), any, and if any what, opportunity was afforded to any other persons above the prescribed age to compete after it had been decided to abandon the advertised limit of age?
§ MR. E. STANHOPENo other such case has occurred. As regards the present instance, the professional assessors, who were good enough to assist me in selecting an Inspector, were not able to recommend any of the candidates within the age, but considered that the qualifications of the 1818 gentleman selected were such that the limit of age should not be insisted on. I am satisfied that we have chosen the best man.
§ MR. HANBURYMy point is that the advertisements having stated that nobody above 40 years of age should apply, I cannot understand why it should have been decided to appoint a man of 46. Was there any competition of men up to that age?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEMy point is this—that the person appointed was selected from an enormous number of applicants, and I am satisfied that, so far as the Public Service is concerned, the best man has been appointed.