§ MR. NANNETTII beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the change recently made in the programme 185 of examination for third class clerkships in the Irish Land Commission, the old regulations as usual in such cases will remain in force for the two coming examinations, so that candidates above the new age limit, who have been preparing since the last examination, held over twelve months ago, may be given an opportunity of competing.
§ MR. ATKINSONMy right hon. friend has been in correspondence with the Land Commission and the Civil Service Commissions in reference to this matter. It is true that there has been a recent revision of the regulations affecting examinations for third class clerkships in the former Department, and obviously no change could be made in regulations of this character, even where notice of the date from which the change shall take effect is given, without excluding or placing at a disadvantage unknown persons who are proposing to compete. There is at present no vacancy on the staff of third class clerks in the Land Commission, and, consequently, no examination is pending. Should, however, an examination be held before the 1st January, 1903, arrangements will be made for conducting it under the old Regulations of June, 1895.