§ MR. THOMAS F. SMYTH (Leitrim, S.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the assistant clerks (new class) employed in the General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen may expect a reply to their petition of the 12th March, 1908, in which they ask for promotion to the Second Division 828 on the ground that they are employed on superior duties.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) Under Clause 15 of the Order in Council of November, 1898, promotion to the Second Division is only to be given exceptionally on the ground of special merit. In accordance with a decision which has been arrived at, the case of the assistant clerks (abstractor class) will be considered on the next vacancy, and on each alternate vacancy thereafter, with a view to considering whether a promotion should be made from that class. I may add that the staff have been informed of the position of the case.