§ MR. JASPER TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) whether he can state on what grounds the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council have refused to sanction the appointment of Mr. Edward Reynolds as Veterinary Inspector of Mohill Union, seeing that his qualifications are the same as those of his father, who held the position until his death a few months ago; (2) and, whether, as it will involve a heavy tax on an impoverished district to pay the 699 salary which a fully qualified veterinary surgeon would require to reside permanently in the Union, and as Mr. Reynolds has discharged the duties for a considerable time without complaint, the Veterinary Department will withdraw their objection to his appointment as they did in the case of his late father?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Lord Lieutenant refused to sanction the appointment in question, because Mr. Reynolds possesses no professional qualifications for the office of Veterinary Inspector, and because it is open to the Guardians to obtain the services of a duly qualified veterinary surgeon who is willing to undertake the duties. The late Veterinary Inspector of the Union was appointed so far back as 1878 at a time when the Local Authority were unable to procure the services of a qualified veterinary surgeon. The hon. Member is under a slight misapprehension in regard to the second paragraph, inasmuch as one half of the salary attaching to the office would be recouped to the Guardians by the Veterinary Department, and the salary of £52 a year paid to the late holder of the appointment would represent a charge of about one farthing in the pound on the valuation of the Union.