§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is within his knowledge that the Watch Committee of tire Borough of Portsmouth have resolved to appoint to the post of Chief Constable of that borough a naval officer, who has retired from the Service for more than 20 years, and who was up to the time of his appointment a member of the said Committee; and whether he will consider the desirability of making some regulation to secure such appointments to officers of experience in police duties?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.The matter is not one which would in the ordinary course come before me, but I learn on inquiry that the officer referred to is a candidate for the post of Head Constable, but that no appointment has yet been made. The appointment is by law left entirely in the hands of the Watch Committee, and I have no power to make any regulations, or to interfere in any way with their discretion.