§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the existing president of the Engineering College at Cooper's Hill accepted his appointment three years ago on the express condition that he should also discharge the duties of a professor at that institution; whether he is aware that this condition, thus first introduced, caused other eligible candidates to withdraw, on the ground that both functions could not be efficiently discharged by the same individual; and whether, as the Secretary of State has now reverted to the former system, and invited applications for the post of professor, it is intended to reduce proportionately the president's emoluments now that he will be relieved of the professor's work.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONIt is true that the existing president of Cooper's Hill College was appointed on condition that he should act not only as president, but also as professor of constructive engineering. Whether this condition deterred other candidates from applying I am unable to saw The combination of duties had not been tried previously to Colonel Pennycuick's appointment; and, after about two years' experience, he represented to me that the arrangement was one which could not be satisfactorily worked. After very careful consideration of the matter in Council, I decided to relieve Colonel Pennycuick of his professorial duties without reducing his salary, which was the same that had been drawn by his predecessors, who took no part in the teaching of the college.