§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Midleton (County Cork) Board of Guardians recently adopted a resolution protesting against the appointment of Mrs. Dickie as lady inspector of boarded-out pauper children in the Midleton Union, the children being all Roman Catholics, and that other protests have been made by public Boards in Ireland against this appointment; whether there was no Irish Roman Catholic candidate qualified for the position; and whether, in view of the fact that the majority of boarded-out pauper children in Ireland are Roman Catholics, consideration will be given to the advisability of rescinding this appointment and appointing a Roman Catholic lady inspector.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI replied very fully to Questions addressed to me on this subject yesterday. As already stated, the person appointed was selected solely on the ground of her proved administrative experience under the Poor Laws and Factory Acts.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am not prepared to propose that this appointment should be rescinded.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs it a fact that qualified Catholic candidates were not available?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI took no cognisance of their religion, and, as a matter of fact, I did not know the religion of two of the ladies concerned. The names of only three ladies were brought under my notice—the first was that of Miss MacDonald, matron of the Richmond Hospital; but, as she did not see her way to accept the appointment, it was offered to Mrs. Dickie. Had Mrs. Dickie refused it, it would have been offered to the third lady, Dr. Elizabeth Bell.