§ DR. HAZEL (West Bromwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the following gentleman have lately been appointed to Bengal in the Imperial educational service, viz., Mr. E. Candler, a newspaper correspondent to the principalship of the Hooghly College, Mr. J. A. Chapman, recently a clerk in an exchange bank, to the principalship of the Calcutta Madrassab, and Mr. W. Horn, recently a private tutor in the family of the Lieu tenant-Governor of Bengal, to an inspectorship of schools; whether, seeing that high university distinction has ordinarily been considered an indispensable condition for holding such appointments, he can say what are the educational qualifications and university distinctions of each of the gentlemen named; and whether their appointments have superseded eminent Indian graduates of British universities, who are employed in the lower paid and subordinate ranks of the provincial educational service.
§ * THE UNDER-SECRETAEY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. ELLIS,) Nottinghamshire, RushcliffeThe gentlemen referred to have been appointed to hold charge of the posts mentioned temporarily, during the absence on leave of the permanent holders, and have not been appointed permanently to the Indian Educational Service. Mr. Candler was engaged in teaching in India from 1896 to 1903, and is stated to have shown exceptional fitness for work of that nature; Mr. Home and Mr. Chapman have also been employed in educational work with good practical results. Mr. Home took honours at Edinburgh; Mr. Candler is a graduate of Cambridge: as to Mr. Chapman's university career I have no information. The posts in question, which are among those allotted to the Indian Educational Service, would ordinarily be filled from this country, and are not open to the members of the Provincial Educational Service, who therefore, have not been superseded by the selection of the gentlemen above mentioned.
§ DR. HAZELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Candler was Daily Mail correspondent in Thibet? Is that a sufficient qualification for the headship of a college?
§ * MR. ELLISI have no information as to the supposed connection with this newspaper and must ask for notice.
§ * SIR H. COTTONHas it not been usual to appoint a man of oriental attainments to the principalship of the Calcutta Madrassah, and was it desirable to select a clerk in an exchange bank for the office?