§ MR. CARSON (Dublin University)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on what grounds the Civil Service Commissioners have refused leave to Mr. Gray to offer himself as a candidate for the office of County Surveyor in Ireland at the open competition, to be held in a few days; whether he is aware that Mr. Gray passed through the engineering school of Trinity College, Dublin, with distinction; whether the Civil Service Commissioners have any power to prevent candidates competing at the open examinations; and, if so, under what circumstances; and whether he will endeavour to induce the Commissioners to allow Mr. Gray to compete at the coming examinations, as he has been 1827 preparing for it for some time and at considerable expense?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERT(who replied) said: The Civil Service Commissioners decided that Mr. Gray with eight other intending candidates could not be certified as qualified, because they had not been engaged "in the practice of their profession on adequate works for a sufficient time," as required by the Regulations issued by the Commissioners. The Act 25 & 26 Vict. c. 106 charges the Commissioners with the duty of examining into and certifying the qualifications of all persons desirous to act as County Surveyors; the discretion of the Commissioners is therefore complete, and the Treasury cannot interfere. I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the statement in the second paragraph.
§ MR. CARSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Gray has been preparing for this for throe years, and would it not be fair that his practical efficiency should be tested by the Examiners, and not leave the matter to the arbitrary judgment of the Commissioners?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThe Commissioners have full power under the Act of Parliament, and the Government cannot interfere.
§ MR. CARSONI shall call attention to this question on the Estimates.