§ MR. MEEHAN (Queen's County, Leix)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a junior supervisor in the Excise Outdoor Department has been appointed over the heads of 100 of his colleagues without any reasons being assigned for this proceeding; will he say what special qualification this gentleman had which his seniors did not possess, and have any reasons been since given for making this appointment; and will he abolish such a cover for favouritism.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The appointment referred to in the hon. Member's Question was one for which very special qualifications were required. The Board selected the senior officer who appeared to them to possess those qualifications in the requisite degree.