§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the claims to promotion of certain members of the old examiner class in the Exchequer and Audit Department who, about 1st November, 1905, were called on to retire on pension are now considered when superior vacancies arise, he will explain how the interests of these men were consulted by thus calling on them to retire on pension.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The officers referred to were not called upon to retire, but were afforded an opportunity of doing so. This course was considered to be desirable in the interests of the officers themselves as well as of the Department.