§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the date when the present class of temporary men copyists were first advertised for by the Civil Service Commissioners in the public Press; the date of the first public examination for temporary men copyists; and the date when the first batch of successful candidates were registered by the Civil Service Commissioners?
§ *MR. HANBURYThe first notice of examinations being held for temporary copyists (then called writers) was issued 15th August 1870, inviting applicants to present themselves for examination on any Thursday or Friday during August or September. A large number of applicants attended accordingly for examination in the weeks ending August 20th and 27th, and on August 30th. The Commissioners passed a minute, directing that the names of 18 successful in the examinations should be registered, as the inquiries respecting age, health, and character, were completed. Names were thus registered on September 3rd, 6th, 8th, and later dates. This register of temporary men copyists was closed in December 1886 (on the issue of the Treasury Minute giving bonuses for good service and gratuities on retirement). Since then, 745 men, then serving as temporary copyists, have obtained permanent appointments in the Civil Service (as "Abstractors," or otherwise) and only 122 are now serving as temporary copyists.