§ MR. E. BARRY (Cork County, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant 714 of Ireland if he is aware that some time early this year the Land Commissioners forwarded to If is Majesty's Treasury certain recommendations on behalf of the temporary clerks employed in the offices of the Irish Land Commission, and that the Treasury refused to recognise the claims put forward on their behalf; if he is aware; that these; clerks were doing important work which was recognised by the heads of their Departments; that they had no prospect of reaching a higher salary than £2 per week, considering that such clerics had services ranging from eight to eighteen years, while in other Irish Government Departments, such as the Board of Agriculture and Local Government Board, the temporary clerks were provided for; and, considering the length of service of such clerks in the Land Commission, the nature; of their work and prospects, will he inquire into their grievances, with a view to improving their position.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Any correspondence which has taken place must be regarded as confidential. It would not be in the interests of the public service that I should depart from the existing practice by disclosing its contents. I am not at present prepared to institute the inquiry suggested in the concluding portion of the Question.