§ MR. GEORGE BROWN (Edinburgh, Central)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Board Stores of the National Commissioners are to be abolished; whether it is proposed that in future all orders from national schools for school books shall be transmitted to publishers or their agents through the Commissioners; and, if so, what is the reason for prohibiting orders direct from schools to publishers or booksellers, and for keeping a staff at the public expense for transmitting these orders.
(Answer.) The book stores will be abolished, and it is proposed that in future all orders from national schools for books and other requisites shall be transmitted to the publishers or their agents, through the Commissioners. This arrangement is adopted for the convenience of managers and teachers, and with a view of securing that the books and requisites shall be of proper qualities. A considerable saving to the public will ultimately be effected by the arrangement.—(Irish Office.)